Tennessee Black Legislative Caucus will hear complaints of racial discrimination from African American students at Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN.

The Tennessee Black Legislative Caucus will hear complaints of racial discrimination from African American students at Austin Peay State University (APSU)Clarksville TN. The meeting will take place in Legislative Plaza, Room 31 in Nashville, TN. This meeting with the caucus is in response to months of unrest on the APSU campus surrounding budget cuts and an academic reorganization proposal which African American students have labeled discriminatory.

Austin Peay State University
Timbuktu African American Minor Association
P.O. Box 4777
Clarksville, Tenn. 37042
931-302-1667 or 931-906-3823
615-573-5593 or 931-645-3880

For Immediate Release:
Clarksville, Tennessee

On Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at 4:30 p.m., the Tennessee Black Legislative Caucus will hear complaints of racial discrimination from African American students at Austin Peay State University (APSU). The meeting will take place in Legislative Plaza, Room 31 in Nashville, TN. This meeting with the caucus is in response to months of unrest on the APSU campus surrounding budget cuts and an academic reorganization proposal which African American students have labeled discriminatory.

At the center of the controversy is APSU President, Sherry Hoppe whom some student leaders believe has used state mandated budget cuts to erode the African American presence on the campus. Each year the African American faculty and staff presence at APSU is diminishing," said Catherine Davila, treasurer of the African American Student Association at APSU. This directly relates to the retention of African American students on this campus," Davila stated.
Retention is a problem at APSU. Black students come but they dont stay. But, I cant blame them though. Why stay at a school if you dont feel welcomed? Thats why we are trying to change things," said Amanda Jordan, President of the Timbuktu African American Minor Association.

About 100 students demonstrated in front of Hoppes office on April 15, 2003. The students were especially concerned with the three-month summer shutdown of the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center, a ten-thousand dollar budget cut in the directors salary, and the movement of African American Studies to the history department.

Contrary to the advice of representatives from the National Council for Black Studies, Bruce Speck, Vice President of Academic Affairs stated in an APSU press release that it is not unusual for an African American Studies program to be embedded in a history department. However, even at APSUs sister institutions, Middle Tennessee State University, Memphis State University and Tennessee State University the African American Studies programs are not under the history department.

Currently the Clarksville Branch of the NAACP is investigating the students complaints. We had to go outside. We dont even have a place to voice our complaints at APSU! The Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity, Affirmative Action and Legal Affairs on our campus used to work for the Tennessee Board of Regents defending universities within the system against complaints of racial discrimination. How can we be treated fairly in this system?" said Davila.

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