ENROLLED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 172
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Monday, June 5, 2017, as Southern University Day at the state capitol and to
commend and congratulate the Southern University System on its one hundred
thirty-seven year history.
WHEREAS, the Southern University System began in New Orleans, Louisiana, in
1880, when a group of black politicians led by former United States Senator P.B.S.
Pinchback of New Orleans, joined by T.T. Allain of Iberville Parish and Henry Demas of
St. John the Baptist Parish, petitioned the state constitutional convention to establish a school
of higher learning for "colored" people and as a result, Act No. 87 of 1880 was enacted and
Southern University came into existence; and
WHEREAS, the passage of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 provided for the
establishment of an agricultural and mechanical department for African Americans with
support from the state and federal governments and Southern University was reorganized as
a land-grant institution with separate divisions for agriculture and mechanical arts; and
WHEREAS, the university moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in 1912
pursuant to Act No. 118 of 1912 and opened on its new site in 1914 under the leadership of
Dr. J.S. Clark where its curriculum was expanded through two-year college degrees; and
WHEREAS, from a school with twelve students, five faculty members, a ten
thousand dollar budget, and a vision, Southern University has developed into a university
system that is a national treasure with five campuses offering baccalaureate degree
programs, associate degree programs, master degree programs, doctoral programs, and a law
degree program; and
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WHEREAS, numerous academic programs at Southern University have received
national acclaim: SU's School of Nursing and Allied Health's Graduate Nursing Program was
recently honored as the "2017 Nursing School of the Year, Graduate Degree Programs" by
the Louisiana Nurses Federation; the SU Laboratory School is ranked thirty-eighth among
U.S. News & World Report's "Best High Schools in Louisiana"; the Department of Family
and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Family, and Consumer Sciences is
prominently ranked in the 2016-2017 list of "50 Great Value Colleges for Family and
Consumer Sciences"; the SU Law Center in 2016 was ranked fourth in highest yield of
student enrollment by U.S. News and World Report and first in "Most Diverse Faculty" by
the Princeton Review; and
WHEREAS, many of those persons who are grateful for the opportunity and
education provided them by Southern University serve as elected members of this Louisiana
House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, Southern University merits a special measure of recognition upon the
celebration of its exemplary education tradition proving that a dream in 1880 has today
become a living legacy of determination, commitment, and success that now spans one
hundred thirty-seven years.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Monday, June 5, 2017, as Southern
University Day at the state capitol, does hereby recognize and record for posterity the pride
and honor that the Southern University System brings to the state of Louisiana, does hereby
express sincere appreciation for its singular legacy of excellence, and does hereby extend
to the entire Southern University family best wishes upon this memorable day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the president of the Southern University System.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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