One Florida Plan Meets More Opposition
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights have voted to issue a statement criticizing Gov. Jeb Bush’s program banning consideration of race and gender in university admissions and contracting decisions.
The federal panel voted 6-2 to approve the statement earlier this month, says commission spokesman David Aronson.
The statement says One Florida lacks the ingredients to increase diversity.
Voting against issuing the statement were commission members Carl A. Anderson and Russell G. Redenbaugh.
Bush has dismissed the criticism by the commission for its stand on the One Florida plan. Democrats, he noted, dominate the panel.
“I think it was a purely political statement,” Bush says.
Meanwhile, state University System Chancellor Dr. Adam Herbert plans to recommend that a new policy guaranteeing admission to the top 20 percent of each high school senior class be stopped after a specific date, still to be determined.
Herbert disclosed his plans in a letter to three state legislators, who had asked that Bush’s new “Talented 20” plan be delayed for a year.
Queens College President Resigns
NEW YORK — Queens College President Dr. Allen Sessoms, beset with controversy over his failed plan to bring a $30 million AIDS research center to the campus, resigned earlier this month.
“I have written to President Allen L. Sessoms of Queens College to indicate my acceptance of his resignation, which will be effective August 31, 2000,” City University of New York Chancellor Dr. Matthew Goldstein said.
In a written statement, Sessoms, who is African American, said it had been difficult to live apart from his family, who stayed in Boston during his five years at the college. He added that he was interested in exploring “significant new opportunities.”
Rita Rodin, a CUNY spokeswoman, said she could not elaborate on the reasons for Sessoms’ resignation from the $136,661-a-year post.
But The New York Times and Newsday reported that Sessoms quit under pressure after misleading CUNY officials by saying he had raised sufficient funds to build the AIDS center when in fact he had not.
Sessoms,53, drew wide attention when he announced plans to bring AIDS researcher Luc Montagnier to Queens and build a research center for him, saying he would raise most of the necessary $30 million from private donations.
The Times said CUNY’s decision to seek Sessoms’ removal followed the completion of a report on the AIDS center and a five-year review of Sessoms by a panel of outside educators.
Trustees told The Times that both reports, which have not been released, raised serious concerns about Sessoms’ leadership.
Efforts to Limit Citadel Performances of “Dixie” May Be Working
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The African American Society at The Citadel may be making progress in efforts to limit playing “Dixie” at the state military college.
The school customs committee of the college’s governing board recommended earlier this month that the administration, not the board, decide when it is historically appropriate to play the song.
“If the committee’s recommendation goes before the full board and is ratified, then, yes, progress has been made,” says Allyn Brooks-LaSure, president of the African American Society.
Last month, the society suggested limiting “Dixie” to only one of the college’s four major visitors’ weekends and at other events when historically necessary. The policy now is to play it at historically appropriate events, although cadets may elect not to play or stand in formation when “Dixie” is played. Until last year, the song was played once a year, says Brooks-LaSure. But when the Citadel Story, a musical history of the college, was introduced last year, there was concern “Dixie” would be played more often.
