HLS 17RS-213 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 172
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes Monday, June 5, 2017, as Southern
University Day at the state capitol
1 A RESOLUTION
2To recognize Monday, June 5, 2017, as Southern University Day at the state capitol and to
3 commend and congratulate the Southern University System on its one hundred
4 thirty-seven year history.
5 WHEREAS, the Southern University System began in New Orleans, Louisiana, in
61880, when a group of black politicians led by former United States Senator P.B.S.
7Pinchback of New Orleans, joined by T.T. Allain of Iberville Parish and Henry Demas of
8St. John the Baptist Parish, petitioned the state constitutional convention to establish a school
9of higher learning for "colored" people and as a result, Act No. 87 of 1880 was enacted and
10Southern University came into existence; and
11 WHEREAS, the passage of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 provided for the
12establishment of an agricultural and mechanical department for African Americans with
13support from the state and federal governments and Southern University was reorganized as
14a land-grant institution with separate divisions for agriculture and mechanical arts; and
15 WHEREAS, the university moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in 1912
16pursuant to Act No. 118 of 1912 and opened on its new site in 1914 under the leadership of
17Dr. J.S. Clark where its curriculum was expanded through two-year college degrees; and
18 WHEREAS, from a school with twelve students, five faculty members, a ten
19thousand dollar budget, and a vision, Southern University has developed into a university
20system that is a national treasure with five campuses offering baccalaureate degree
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HR NO. 172
1programs, associate degree programs, master degree programs, doctoral programs, and a law
2degree program; and
3 WHEREAS, numerous academic programs at Southern University have received
4national acclaim: SU's School of Nursing and Allied Health's Graduate Nursing Program was
5recently honored as the "2017 Nursing School of the Year, Graduate Degree Programs" by
6the Louisiana Nurses Federation; the SU Laboratory School is ranked thirty-eighth among
7U.S. News & World Report's "Best High Schools in Louisiana"; the Department of Family
8and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Family, and Consumer Sciences is
9prominently ranked in the 2016-2017 list of "50 Great Value Colleges for Family and
10Consumer Sciences"; the SU Law Center in 2016 was ranked fourth in highest yield of
11student enrollment by U.S. News and World Report and first in "Most Diverse Faculty" by
12the Princeton Review; and
13 WHEREAS, many of those persons who are grateful for the opportunity and
14education provided them by Southern University serve as elected members of this Louisiana
15House of Representatives; and
16 WHEREAS, Southern University merits a special measure of recognition upon the
17celebration of its exemplary education tradition proving that a dream in 1880 has today
18become a living legacy of determination, commitment, and success that now spans one
19hundred thirty-seven years.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
21Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Monday, June 5, 2017, as Southern
22University Day at the state capitol, does hereby recognize and record for posterity the pride
23and honor that the Southern University System brings to the state of Louisiana, does hereby
24express sincere appreciation for its singular legacy of excellence, and does hereby extend
25to the entire Southern University family best wishes upon this memorable day.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
27to the president of the Southern University System.
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HR NO. 172
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 172 Original 2017 Regular Session Carpenter
Recognizes June 5, 2017, as Southern University Day at the state capitol and commends and
congratulates the Southern University System.
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