DSU President sends letter to President Biden, VP Harris

DELAWARE – Delaware State University President Tony Allen sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday.

The letter thanks President Biden and Vice President Harris for the work done by the administration to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Specifically, the letter mentions that the Biden-Harris Administration delivered more than $17 billion in investments to the HBCU community, including:

• American Rescue Plan for emergency grants for students, campus operations, staffing, and learning during the pandemic
• Infrastructure loan forgiveness for 45 public and private HBCUs
• The expansion of academic capacity as well as financial aid for students from low and middle income families and support for HBCUs, which were victimized by bomb threats to their campuses
• Expanding research opportunities for HBCUs, allowing them to become more competitive as centers for innovation
• Approving nearly $160 billion in student debt cancellation for over 4.5 million people

“You have forever changed the course of our outstanding institutions, Mr. President, and your actions have affirmed something you have known since you launched your first campaign on the hallowed grounds of Delaware State University in 1971: if you believe in access and opportunity for all, regardless of what you look like, where you come from, or who you love, you believe in HBCUs.

Madam Vice President—an HBCU alumna yourself—you, of course, know that HBCUs have long accepted doing more with less. But because of the Biden-Harris team, it is clear that less is no longer acceptable. Madam Vice President, please know that your substantive impact is not lost on us. Like many of our mothers and fathers told us and, as I suspect your parents told you, too, “You have to be twice as good, twice as smart, twice as resilient, and twice as thoughtful just to get a seat at the table at which we have been settling for crumbs.” Your example has taught us that we can set our own table. While many think that the clarion call of “HU” is reserved for Howard University, we all know it is the rallying cry for Black Excellence, Black Equity, and Black Energy in an America that needs us all.”

The letter closes by saying, “Mr. President, we are now and will continue to be prepared to heed your selfless, courageous, democratic call, and we will work over the next several months to carry the work of your presidency forward on behalf of our country and all of the institutions—including HBCUs—that have adhered to the nation’s highest pursuit: “a more perfect union.” We are, as ever, thankful for your leadership and are resolute in our continued pursuits: “We shall not be moved!”