Ga. senator suggests black colleges merge

ATLANTA, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A Georgia lawmaker suggested the University System consider merging two historically black public colleges with white-majority schools to save money.

The suggestion by state Sen. Seth Harp, R-Columbus and chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, was derided by supporters of the black schools, who said the institutions were important, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday.

"I think it's a bad idea," said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, who was a teacher at two historically black private colleges. "Black schools serve a purpose of offering not only programs but an atmosphere conducive to black students graduating."

Harp said the University System, which has 35 public schools and a $2.3 billion state budget, will face hard choices to address budget cuts that could exceed $200 million.

Harp suggested the system consider merging two Savannah, Ga., schools -- historically black Savannah State University and historically white-majority Armstrong Atlantic State University, the newspaper said. The system also should look into merging historically black Albany State College with white-majority, two-year Darton College in Albany, Ga., as well, he said to the newspaper.

Merging the schools would reduce administrative costs and reduce program duplication, he said.

Finances won't be the lone consideration on a potential merger, University System Chancellor Erroll Davis said.

"You can make obvious arguments about the economics of it but I don't think economics will drive the decision," Davis told the Journal-Constitution.