Black Caucus Calls Settlement Offer in HBCU Equity Lawsuit 'Woefully Inadequate'
A version of this letter was sent to Maryland Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan on Feb. 16:
I write in response to your chief legal counsel’s Feb. 7, 2018, letter of information regarding the status of the case -- Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education Inc. v. Maryland Higher Education Commission et al -- and your administration’s goals.
Del. Cheryl D. Glenn is the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus appreciates that correspondence and your desire to end litigation in a manner satisfactory to all parties and to all Marylanders. We share your desire and believe that justice in this matter is long overdue.
Respectfully, your “comprehensive settlement” offer of up to $100 million over ten years is woefully inadequate given the district court’s finding that, in the decades since Brown v. Board of Education, the state has violated the constitutional rights of students at Maryland’s Historically Black Institutions. We note that similar lawsuits in other states such as Mississippi and Alabama have been settled for over $500 million and still have proven inadequate to alleviate longstanding educational discrimination in those states. While supplemental appropriations are necessary and appropriate, any proposed settlement should include the establishment of programmatic niches, academic enhancements, and a reformed process for approving new academic programs, at each HBI. We believe the court’s remedial framework, which would be overseen by a special master, goes a long way towards a truly comprehensive solution.
In sum, the single greatest state-sponsored educational deprivation in Maryland’s history deserves more. Given the proven, multi-generational discrimination against Maryland HBIs and the enormous importance of these institutions to our state, we believe an Amazon HQ2-like commitment is warranted from your administration.
Del. Cheryl D. Glenn Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland
