[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1763-E1764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. JOHN LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, no discussion of our Nation's 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities would be complete without 
mention of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. I have the 
privilege of representing, in my Congressional District, this 
remarkable consortium of institutions of higher learning which 
comprises: Clark Atlanta University; Spelman College; Morehouse 
College; Morehouse School of Medicine; the Interdenominational 
Theological Institute. I also am fortunate to represent Morris Brown 
College, Georgia's first college founded by African-Americans for 
African-Americans, in my Congressional District.
  I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the rich history 
and the integral role that these institutions have played in educating 
African-American scholars for over a century.
  Atlanta University Center--As the largest concentration of 
historically Black colleges and universities in the Nation, the Atlanta 
University Center has played a pivotal role in providing African 
Americans access to higher education for over 150 years. The history of 
the Atlanta University Center Consortium truly demonstrates the forward 
thinking of those who came before us.
  During the 1930s, the modern organization of the Atlanta University 
Center emerged, with Atlanta University, Clark College, Morris Brown 
College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center affiliating a 
few years later. In 1957, the controlling Boards of six HBCU 
institutions (Atlanta University; Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown and 
Spelman Colleges; and Gammon Theological Seminary) ratified new 
Articles of Affiliation, creating the present-day Atlanta University 
Center. In 1964, the Atlanta University Center, Inc. was incorporated 
as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to provide services and programs 
to its member institutions. Today, Atlanta University Center Consortium 
member institutions continue to share a unique bond and a common goal 
of providing quality education for African Americans.
  I want to commend the outstanding work of the Atlanta University 
Center, Consortium Executive Director, Dr. Marilyn T. Jackson, and the 
staff, faculty of the Atlanta University Center.
  Clark Atlanta University--Formed by the consolidation of Atlanta 
University, which offered only graduate degrees, and Clark College, a 
4-year undergraduate institution oriented to the liberal arts, 
Clark Atlanta University was formed in 1988. While Clark Atlanta 
University continues to maintain its historic relationship with the 
United Methodist Church, it should be noted that the legacy of both 
Clark College and Atlanta University extend back to the mid 19th 
century.

  Clark College was founded in 1869 as Clark University by the 
Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which later 
became the United Methodist Church. Atlanta University was established 
by the American Missionary Association, with later assistance from the 
Freedman's Bureau in 1865.
  Prior to its consolidation, Atlanta University was the Nation's 
oldest graduate institution serving a predominantly African-American 
student body. By the late 1870s, Atlanta University was renowned for 
supplying black teachers and librarians to the public schools of the 
South. By 1930, Atlanta University was offering graduate coursework in 
liberal arts, social and natural sciences; it would later go on to 
adopt professional programs in social work, library science, and 
business administration.
  Clark Atlanta University continues to emphasize sound ethical and 
moral principles that promote personal integrity and understanding of 
others. Additionally, Clark Atlanta University accepts the mandate of 
its parent institutions:

[[Page E1764]]

Atlanta University's motto, ``I'll Find a Way or Make One,'' and Clark 
College's motto, ``Culture for Service.''
  I want to commend the outstanding work of Clark Atlanta University's 
current President, Dr. Walter Broadnax, and the staff, faculty, 
students, and alumni.
  Interdenominational Theological Center--The Interdenominational 
Theological Center was chartered in 1958 through the mutual efforts of 
four denominations, representing four seminaries: Morehouse School of 
Religion, Gammon Theological Seminary, Turner Theological Seminary, and 
the Phillips School of Theology. The Interdenominational Theological 
Center would later add the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary; the 
Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary, and the Lutheran Theological 
Seminary in Atlanta. Today, over 15 different denominations are 
represented throughout the center, including Disciples of Christ 
(Christian Church), United Church of Christ, African Methodist 
Episcopal Zion, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic, as well as 
students who are nondenominational.
  The ITC has an international reputation for producing exceptional 
clergy and a longstanding tradition of community outreach, and it is 
known for its commitment to promoting service to both the church and 
society. In fact, the International Theological Center is currently 
playing an important role in fostering a national dialogue surrounding 
the Black church's role in the renewal of American society.
  I want to commend the outstanding work of the Interdenominational 
Theological Center's current President, Dr. Michael A. Battle, and the 
staff, faculty, students, and alumni of the Interdenominational 
Theological Center.
  Morehouse College--Founded in 1867 as the Augusta Institute in 
Augusta, Georgia, Morehouse College is the Nation's largest liberal 
arts college for men. In addition to ensuring that its students are 
prepared both academically and socially, Morehouse also takes great 
pains to ensure that its students are spiritually prepared for 
leadership and success in the larger society; as a result of this 
unique focus, Morehouse has the distinction of conferring bachelor's 
degrees on more black men than any other college or university in the 
United States.
  I am pleased to note that Morehouse's notable alumni include some 
very distinguished Members of this Congress: my colleague from Georgia, 
Congressman Sanford Bishop and my good friend from New York, Major 
Owens. It also should be noted that Morehouse counts former U.S. 
Surgeon General David Satcher, and former Health and Human Services 
Secretary Leon Sullivan, among its prominent alumni.
  I want to commend the outstanding work of Morehouse College's current 
President, Dr. Walter Massey, in addition to its students, faculty, 
staff, and alumni.
  Morehouse School of Medicine--Morehouse School of Medicine was 
established in 1975, as part of Morehouse College, to address both a 
severe shortage of minority doctors, and a shortage of doctors in rural 
areas and inner cities. In 1983, Morehouse School of Medicine joined 
the consortium of institutions known as Atlanta University Center and 
was granted full accreditation of its M.D. degree program in April 
1985.
  Recognized for taking the lead in educating primary care physicians, 
68 percent of Morehouse School of Medicine alumni are practicing in 
primary care disciplines, while 84 percent are practicing medicine in 
underserved areas. Furthermore, Morehouse School of Medicine's research 
focuses on areas that disproportionately affect the African-American 
and other minorities. Its institutes include, but are not limited to: 
the National Center for Primary Care, the Cardiovascular Research 
Institute, the Neuroscience Institute, and the NASA Space Medicine and 
Life Sciences Research Center.
  I want to commend the outstanding work of Morehouse School of 
Medicine's current President, Dr. John Maupin, in addition to its 
students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
  Spelman College--Founded in 1881 for the purposes of educating 
African-American women and girls, Spelman College has empowered women 
to fully use their talents to succeed and to better the world, for many 
generations. As one of two black women's colleges in the Nation, 
Spelman develops its students not only academically but also 
emotionally and spiritually.
  Spelman students are encouraged to pursue the study of fields where 
minorities and women are often underrepresented, such as math, science, 
and engineering. To this end, Spelman has forged partnerships with NASA 
and has been designated as one of six institutions designated by the 
National Science Foundation and NASA as a Model Institution for 
Excellence in undergraduate science and math education.
  I want to commend the outstanding work of Spelman's current 
President, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, in addition to its students, 
faculty, staff, and alumni.
  Morris Brown College--Morris Brown College is a private, liberal 
arts, 4-year institution founded in 1881 by members of the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, thousands of leaders in government, 
education, business, technical fields and the professions are proud to 
have Morris Brown College as their alma mater.
  While the Atlanta community was deeply troubled by the April 2003 
decision of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to rescind 
the accreditation of Morris Brown College, we remain hopeful that the 
institution will soon be restored to its full academic standing. I 
stand in solidarity with Morris Brown College, as it moves forward 
through this challenging transition, and I am confident that the 
institution will return stronger than ever.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for the goals and 
ideals of Historically Black Colleges and Universities week, and I 
encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.

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