WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Alumni react To university merger possibility

Alumni react To university merger possibility

By David Kenney - bio | email

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Governor Haley Barbour is hoping to balance the state budget by making big cuts to education.

His suggestion is to merge Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State with Jackson State.

Now alumni from those schools are speaking out against the possibility their universities could lose their names.

The merger would keep the Lorman and Itta Bena campuses open, but they would become part of Jackson State.

The governor's suggestion of merging the three universities comes with the belief that there would be one president, and eliminate staff, saving money.

That suggestion is not sitting well with alumni from those schools.

The governor's budget will ultimately come before state lawmakers for a vote next year.

State Representative Alyce Clarke is an Alcorn alumna.

She says she doesn't believe the governor would have enough votes to pass a budget that merges the universities together.

Clarke says she was surprised no other state funded universities, other than Mississippi University for Women, were suggested for a merger.

Barbour says he's also considering other mergers in state offices to make up for a $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget expected in the next two years.

He's also suggesting the lower performing public school districts, merge with better performing schools.

©2009 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.