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I NEWS
INSIDE MOREHOUSE, OCTOBER 2013
‘Morehouse College Is Now Stable,’
Wilson Tells Faculty, Staff and Students
BY ADD SEYMOUR JR.
SHARON SELDON, administrative assistant in the Office of
Admissions and Recruitment, was like most other Morehouse
employees over the past few months - wondering where the College
stood financially and what the institution’s future looked like.
So when President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79 held three
separate September town hall meetings for staff, faculty and stu
dents, she was happy to finally get some answers.
“I was hoping to hear in detail what is going on and get a
complete understanding of where we are today,” she said. “I got
that from him, and it has made me feel much more comfortable.”
The comforting news for the campus community is that
Morehouse is now on solid ground after a challenging early 2013.
As Wilson came into office in February, he said the College
had severe cash flow problems (what had been average begin
ning fiscal-year cash balances of $26 million was at $1.5 million in
2012-13); a period of deficit spending; enrollment had fallen; and
the College’s credit worthiness was in question after three financial
downgrades.
But things have started to change, Wilson said as he displayed
on the Bank of America Auditorium screen a newspaper headline,
“Morehouse College Is Now Stable.”
“I want to be clear where we are. If there is any chatter,
any gossip or rumors, let the rumors be this,” he said refer
ring to the headline. “This is the bottom line. This is the news
from this meeting.”
Several immediate actions were taken.
First, the administration drew $10 million from the endow
ment, an amount that will be restored. A successful and record-
breaking alumni fundraising push raised nearly $7 million, $1
million more than has ever been raised within a year.
And finally, one of the toughest things that had to be done
was a reduction in force of 75 positions, Wilson said.
“We were teetering.. .but we’re over it,” he said. “We’re
stable. We’re now transitioning. We are creating partnerships
and we are positioning for a surge towards preeminence.”
The College is now focusing on ensuring Morehouse attains
President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. 79
Wilson's goal of capital and c h aracre rp reenrineirce^ wi t h srr on g
fundraising, much lower dependence on tuition and an overall
stronger investment in actual education.
“We have a good vision,” he said. “Capital and character
preeminence are getting traction around this country. A lot of
people can relate. They understand it immediately and a lot of
them are starting to invest in it.
“I have in mind a headline in the near future,” Wilson added.
‘“Morehouse College realizes capital and character preeminence.’
That will be the first time for any college or university in the
world. A lot of have capital preeminence. But they don’t have
character preeminence like Morehouse. I want to get here, and
that’ll be the first time that combination has existed, so we’re try
ing to do what hasn’t been done.” H
Ray Charles Stamp
(continued from the cover)
A few months following Charles’ death in
June 2004, the College, with host Bill Cosby,
celebrated his extraordinary life with “A Tribute
to Ray Charles” on September 29, 2004, in
Beverly Hills, Calif. The star-studded tribute
featured many of Charles’ friends and proteges
in the entertainment industry-including coun
try and pop icon Kenny Rogers- and launched
the $20-million fund-raising campaign that led
to the building of the Ray Charles Performing
Arts Center. And this February, the Ray Charles
Foundation donated $3 million dollars to name
the Music Academic Building after Ray’s moth
er, Aretha Robinson.
“With his generous investment in us, he put
his stamp on Morehouse College, in this building,
and that has strengthened us to put our stamp
on so many young men in this country,” said
Morehouse President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79.
Rogers told the Morehouse audience that he
saw a Charles concert as a teenager in Houston
and knew he wanted to become a musician.
“Ray Charles wasn’t just my friend,” Rogers
said. “He was my inspiration.”
After the stamp was unveiled at Morehouse,
R&B superstar Ashanti performed some of
quick to say that Charles inspired a new genera
tion of musicians like her.
“He’s opened the doors for so many art
ists, such as me,” she said. “It’s a very hum
bling experience.”
His friend, Tony Gumina, president
of the Ray Charles Marketing Group, said
Charles would have been humbled by the
honor himself.
“It’s really incredible,” he said. “I know he
would be so honored here today to have this
commemoration taking place at Morehouse.” I
RAYPAC Named One of Atlanta’s Top Architectural Buildings
The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center
and the atrium Onset).
IN JULY, MOREHOUSE’S newest building was honored as one of Atlanta’s most
important
The American Institute of Architects of Atlanta chose The Ray Charles
Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building as one of Atlanta’s Top
Architectural Buildings.
It joins iconic Atlanta landmarks such as the High Museum of Art, The Fox
Theater and Peachtree Center in being honored. The entire list appeared in the
June 7-13 issue of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. A slideshow also is available
online at http://www.bizjoumals.com/atlanta/news/2013/06/07/slideshow-top-
architectural-buildings.html.
“It recognizes the aclrievement of the intended outcomes, which were to con
struct a facility that would inspire our faculty mid students exemplify the excellence
for which Morehouse is known, and reflect the aspirations of the surrounding com
munity for the type of development they would like to have, ” said Andre Bertrand 76,
vice president for Campus Operations.
The building is named after music legend Ray Charles, a Georgia native
who contributed millions of dollars to Morehouse so the College could find,
educate and inspire the next generation of music pioneers.
Completed in 2010, RAYPAC is a $20-million, 76,000-square-foot build
ing that anchors the College’s south end. It includes the Emma and Joe Adams
Concert Hall, rehearsal space for the Morehouse College Glee Club and the
Morehouse College Marching Band, 12 faculty studios, three academic labs, nine
practice rooms, the David Geffen Keyboard Digital Music Library and the Eugene
Mitchell Performance Lawn.
“It is indicative of a new era in the design and construction of future facili
ties at Morehouse,” Bertrand said. ■