Re: Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, Inc., et al v. Maryland Higher Education, et al.

Dear Governor Hogan:

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is a member of the Coalition for the Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, Inc. I am a member of the Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Baltimore City, Maryland.

I write to urge you to pay the $1.05 billion dollars that is needed for Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to resolve the decades of unequal funding that a federal judge ruled the state is responsible for. In the state of Maryland, our collective membership represents approximately 30,000, both undergraduate and alumni residents. I am dismayed and opposed to your recent proposal in the negotiation of the long-standing lawsuit between the state and constituents regarding Maryland’s unequal treatment of its four historically black colleges and universities. The State of Maryland must eliminate all vestiges of segregation in Maryland’s Higher Education System. Your settlement offers of $100 or even 200 million fall woefully short of what is required to promote equality into the future and to remedy the significant damages caused to Maryland’s HBCUs and its constituency until present day.

I strongly urge you to follow the court order to provide full funding to these HBCUs in Maryland to pay for new academic programs, marketing, scholarships, financial aid, summer academies and similar initiatives.

 I stand with The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, its chapters, members and supporters calling for a swift and fair resolution to this case.