This was sent to me and I felt compelled to share it with the Put On BLAST! family. Please read and circulate widely.
OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY
Mission of Medgar Evers College Continues to be in Jeopardy
New Administration’s Stance Toward Medgar Evers College’s
Mission Raises Grave Concerns
On Tuesday, June 22, the new administration of Medgar Evers College, reneged on its agreement to continue to host the 14 year old Jazzy Jazz Concert Series during the months of June, July and August. This abrupt decision to cancel the jazz series three days before it was scheduled to begin is further evidence that the new administration of Medgar Evers is not committed to the mission of Medgar Evers.
Two core goals of the College’s mission are:
- to improve students' understanding of self, past and present societies, and future trends by providing them with a liberal education which communicates the knowledge of tradition, the teachings of scholars, and the beauty and profundity of their cultural heritage and
- to offer co-curricular social, economic, and cultural programs which serve its students and a broad population of community residents.
On Tuesday, June 22, the Director of the Jazzy Jazz series received a hand-delivered package stating that the Jazzy Jazz Program was canceled and would not be funded because the program was held on a Friday when the College was closed and that this would require extra security.
The Director of Jazzy Jazz and the VP for External Affairs at Medgar Evers had been meeting over the last month to plan for the upcoming jazz series. A comprehensive schedule had been developed; artists had been contacted and given contracts; media services had been consulted and discussion re: public relations and promoting of the event had been held. The Jazzy Jazz Concert Series was posted on the College’s and CUNY’s event page website.
Jazzy Jazz, founded at Medgar Evers College by the late Dr. Mary Umolu, has been a staple at Medgar Evers College on Friday summer nights since 1996. “To cancel this 14th year concert dedicated to the late Dr. Mary Umolu is a real disappointment. We had marquee artists lined up,” said Michael Howard, Chair of United Music Makers and facilitator of the Jazzy Jazz festival series.
Jitu Weusi, Chair of the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, long time community activist and resident and retired educator said, “The canceling of Jazzy Jazz which is a program originating out of the contributions of the late Dr. Mary Umolu, a life long resident of central Brooklyn who understood the organic relationship between the community and the college, illustrates that the current President is not in tune with the community and the needs of the community.”
The cancellation of this program follows the actions listed below by the new administration. These actions violate the integrity of the mission of Medgar Evers College:
The attempt to move the commencement from the College to BAM without proper input from the College’s commencement committee represented by faculty, students, administrators and the community.
The attempt to stop the funding for the Center for NuLeadership’s Reentry Program which would provide formerly incarcerated men and women with a chance to acquire a college education.
The situation at Medgar Evers College is raising grave concerns. Call Dr. Pollard at (718) 270-5000 or email him at wlpollard@mec.cuny.edu and express your concern over his most recent non-support of the rich cultural program in our community.
