[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 1997

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation which 
would remove the provision in the Southeastern University charter 
requiring that one-third of the board of trustees be Southeastern 
alumni. Southeastern University President Charlene Drew Jarvis and the 
board of trustees have asked me to introduce this corrective measure.
  Southeastern University was incorporated by act of Congress on August 
19, 1937. Its charter contains a provision requiring that one-third of 
the university's board of trustees be alumni. On September 9, 1997, I 
received a letter from Southeastern University President Charlene Drew 
Jarvis asking that I introduce legislation to remove this provision. On 
September 9, 1997, I also received a letter from Board of Trustees 
Chair Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow confirming that the board of trustees had 
authorized President Jarvis to seek this change. Copies of both letters 
are attached. The board of trustees would like this provision removed 
in order to let the university draw from a wider pool of potential 
board nominees. Because the university was incorporated by an act of 
Congress, only the Congress can effectuate this change.
  Southern University is an important and productive institution which 
contributes to the economy of the District of Columbia by offering 
undergraduate and graduate degree programs geared specifically to the 
needs of working professionals. Under the able leadership of 
Southeastern's new president, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, the university 
has begun to rebound from difficult financial circumstances. This 
legislation will allow Southeastern to expand its fundraising potential 
to complement these efforts. I urge my colleagues to support this 
corrective measure.

                                           Southeastern University


                                      Office of the President,

                                Washington, DC, September 9, 1997.
     Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Norton: I have been authorized by the 
     Board of Trustees of Southeastern University to write to you 
     to ask that you assist the university in obtaining an 
     alteration of the Congressionally-granted charter of the 
     university.
       On Page 697 of the United States Statutes At Large for 1937 
     (Vol. 50, Part I), an Act of Congress is recorded as Chapter 
     700. This law, which was approved on August 19, 1937, amended 
     an earlier certificate of incorporation granted within the 
     District of Columbia and officially renamed the institution 
     ``Southeastern University.''
       The act also specified in part as follows: ``Sec. 3. That 
     the management of the said corporation shall be vested in a 
     board of trustees consisting of not less than nine nor more 
     than twenty-one in number as determined from time to time by 
     said board of trustees, one-third of whom, at all times, 
     shall be graduates of the said university, of the 
     qualifications prescribed by the board of managers of the 
     Young Men's Christian Association of the city of Washington, 
     a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of 
     the Act of Congress approved June 28, 1864 (13 Stat. L. 411 
     and the Acts amendatory thereof), nominated by the alumni of 
     the said university in the manner prescribed by said board of 
     managers, and all of whom shall be elected by said board of 
     managers; . . . so that the term of office of one class shall 
     expire annually.''
       The act further specified, in another section: ``Sec. 9. 
     That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as 
     preventing the Congress from amending, altering, annulling, 
     or repealing the same or any part thereof.''
       An Act amending the charter, approved on October 10, 1966, 
     did contain significant changes in the language of Section 3, 
     but it neglected to address the issue we are writing to you 
     about today. Similarly, another Act amending the charter was 
     approved on March 29, 1976, but it did not change the 
     relevant language of that section, either.
       Our request is that, under the authority of Section 9 of 
     the Act, Congress now delete the provision within Section 3 
     of the charter which requires that fully one third of the 
     Board of Trustees of Southeastern University at all times be 
     alumni of the institution.
       We seek this change because a new and more broadly-based 
     Board of Trustees would be a more active and vigorous one, 
     able to fund raise throughout the region and the country, 
     unconstrained by restrictions placed upon it at a time when 
     fund-raising was not such a significant aspect of service on 
     university governing boards.
       Let me assure you and your colleagues that the Board of 
     Trustees understands that it is an excellent idea for alumni 
     to serve on the governing board of this university. Indeed, 
     our current Secretary of the Board is Dr. Ephraim Okoro, a 
     much valued professor of Public Administration. Dr. Okoro is 
     an outstanding alumnus, holding multiple degrees earned here. 
     Several additional current members of the Board are alumni, 
     as well. Therefore, the governing board certainly shall 
     endeavor to continue to have graduates elected to such 
     positions.
       Our request, in conclusion, is that Congress amend Section 
     3 of the charter, to delete the reference restricting 
     Southeastern University's ability to meet its mandates. The 
     preferred language, based on that contained within the 
     October 10, 1966, act, would be: ``Sec. 3. The management of 
     the said corporation shall be vested in a board of trustees 
     consisting of not less than nine nor more than thirty in 
     number as determined from time to time by said board of 
     trustees. Each trustee shall be elected for a term of office 
     of three years from the date of expiration of the term . . . 
     of such predecessor.''
       Thank you very much for helping in this matter. If we at 
     Southeastern University can be of aid as the process of 
     amendment occurs, we would be most happy to provide whatever 
     assistance is requested. Please do not hesitate to call upon 
     us.
           Sincerely yours,
                                       Charlene Drew Jarvis, Ph.D.
                                                        President.


     
                                                                    ____
                                          Southeastern University,


                                            Board of Trustees,

                                Washington, DC, September 9, 1997.
     Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton,
     Member, U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Norton: We, the Members of the Board of 
     Trustees of Southeastern University, have authorized our 
     university president, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, to request 
     from you Congressional action in order that the charter 
     granted to us in 1937 by Congress be adjusted slightly.
       The change we seek would delete from the charter that 
     provision which requires that fully one third of the members 
     of the Board be drawn from amongst ranks of our alumni. Dr. 
     Jarvis will be writing to you with a citation drawn from our 
     existing charter and the language we request in its place. 
     The reason we seek this change is so that we may draw from a 
     wider pool of potential Board nominees who can do significant 
     fund-raising for the university.
       Thank you for assisting us in this pertinent matter. Thank 
     you, also, for your consistent support of the cause of higher 
     education here in Washington.
           Sincerely yours,
                                          Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow,
                                                            Chair.



     

                          ____________________