The state of Oklahoma has continued to underfund Langston University over the years, resulting in ongoing complications for the campus. This year for the first time in decades, they matched federal funding for Langston’s land-grant program. However, they did nothing to resolve the $418 million of unpaid match funds from the past 30 years.
“HBCUs, according to research, have been underfunded by over $30 billion over the last 30-plus years,” Dr. Howard, a professor in the English department said. “Langston University, in particular, of the last 30 years has been underfunded by $400 million.”
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Dr. Howard says when a university is underfunded it causes a high turnover, causing inconsistencies in management and completing projects.
This semester, students and staff were forced to go virtual after poor A/C maintenance which left five buildings in 100+ degree heat, giving freshmen an odd first impression.
“I ain’t pay all this money to be sitting in my room. I’m a visual learner,” one freshman at Langston said, who was given anonymity to speak openly. “It causes laziness and I can’t properly focus,” another freshman said.
This year, the state of Oklahoma allocated $3.5 million to Langston University for deferred Maintenace. Howard said that’s not enough. “A single AC unit costs $600,000. OSU got $80 million this last year to make one building,” Howard said, explaining why Langston may experience so many problems with overall maintenance. Of that $3.5 million, Langston University administration has set aside $2.5 million for roof repairs at the OKC campus.
Despite these issues, Howard has some optimism. “I think that Dr. Jackson and Dr. Peterson [are] going to bring a good approach to leadership, and hopefully with a new leadership style, we will reduce our turnover. I think that’s one of our biggest problems in a variety of areas.”
Brick Mason
Staff Writer
Brick Mason is a junior broadcast journalism major.
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The Gazette serves as the student voice of Langston University. It is produced within the Department of Communication as a teaching tool and local news source for the campus community. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the writers whose names appear with the articles and do not necessarily represent the views of Langston University.
