The National Alumni Association Speaks

The National Alumni Association of Bethune-Cookman University staged a town hall for its membership at the same day and time as the Bethune-Cookman University board of trustees was making its public case for creation of its own alumni organization. Organizers say it was planned at least a week before the BOT meeting was announced.

Johnny McCrary Jr., president of the NAA, dismissed a request by the trustees calling for the NAA to dissolve and let its membership become part of a "direct services organization" the college is planning to implement. The South Florida lawyer also disclosed that the NAA is looking to change its name.

"For nearly 90 years, the alumni of Bethune-Cookman University have faithfully supported our alma mater," McCrary said. "We serve in faith, we serve with hope and we serve with love," he said during his presentation that was streamed live on Sept. 23 on YouTube. He has declined requests for comments from the Voice staff.

During his presentation he acknowledged that the B-CU has announced plans to start its own direct service organization. But, he said, the university has no legal right to ask the current association to dissolve-as it did recently-or to communicate directly is NAA chapters about becoming part of the DSO. At the same time, any alum that would like to join the DSO can do so.

"We are independent of the university and have the right to continue without B-CU's blessing," he said, adding the association has already filed the paperwork for a new name-The Mary McLeod Bethune National Alumni Association. Officials will be communicating with the presidents of its 25 chapters about the next steps in the process.

A former member of the BOT, McCrary said by maintaining its independence from the school, the alumni association is in a better position to challenge questionable practices such as a dorm deal that until recently threatened B-CU's financial stability. He cited Morris Brown College in Atlanta-which lost its accreditation in 2002 because of fiscal management and debt-as an example of what could happen when alumni don't speak out and ask the tough questions. The Atlanta-based college was granted accreditation earlier this year. It enrolled 42 students in 2020.

He also said the association's purpose will continue to be raising money for student scholarships.

Davina Jones, a B-CU alum and administrator at a college in Pasco County, was one of several other speakers that night. Jones said what is happening at B-CU is not unique. "B-CU Is not alone. Many HBCUs are facing this," she said, in part, because their boards of trustees are self-governing and answer to no one-unlike state institutions.

She also cited a recent article penned by Charles Nelms, a former HBCU president, that appears in the journal titled "Diverse Issues in Higher Education."

In the document Nelms, among other things, encourages alumni to speak up about things happening at their alma mater. "He encourages us to operate with best practices," Jones said.