What does political activism get you in 2012?

AAMU's mascot is the Bulldog - image from 1969 yearbook cover

My friend, the late Robert Gerald Joyner, was a student at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) in Normal in the early 1970's when he decided to join a protest march against racial injustice in downtown Huntsville. The university president told students not to participate. Joyner decided to march. As a consequence, he was kicked out of school.

The same scenario of protest with drastic consequences is playing itself out in 2012 at the same institution. Now AAMU has turned on Brandon Brown, a senior with four credit hours left to complete his degree. 

While some are racing to remove the hoods off their hoodies in the Rocket City, Dr. Charles E. Cannon, Vice President of the Alabama A&M University Alumni Association, Inc. reports that Brown is facing retaliation tactics from university officials who happen to be black.

"Dr. Andrew Hugine and his administration have declared war against one of the students that helped to gather signatures from fellow students earlier this year which led to SGA President Foster declaring a 'No Confidence' vote in his leadership at the institution," Cannon said in an email. 

Student Brandon Brown (r) with AAMU's 1st Lady Hugine at 2010 event

"On Friday, March 9, student Brandon Brown received an email from the registrar informing him that by orders of the vice president of student affairs he had been administratively withdrawn from his classes spring 2012. No reason was provided," Cannon continued. Brown was later accused of not paying his room fees.

"What I have shared with you is a blatant case of retaliation by Dr. Hugine and his administration...We send our students to A&M assuming that they are going to be nurtured academically and protected.  Dr. Hugine and his administration are playing hardball with this student - jerking him out of his classes in the middle of a semester."

It is unclear whether Brown owes the institution money and if he does, whether he will be allowed to pay the bill and finish his coursework. According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, graduation of black and minority males should be a national priority.

Cannon is encouraging alumni and other interested parties to voice their disapproval by calling Dr. Andrew Hugine (256-372-5000) and Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (334-242-7100 & 334-353-0004 - fax),  the Alabama Attorney General's Office and Alabama legislators.

Emblem from 1957 yearbook when A&M was still a college

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), is a public, land-grant HBSU founded in 1875. The institution's motto is "Service is Sovereignty."

©2012 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.