[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF SOUTHEASTERN 
                               UNIVERSITY

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2001

  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.
  Southeastern 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 President, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, the University has 
begun to rebound from difficult financial circumstances. This 
legislation will allow Southeastern to expand its fund raising 
potential to complement these efforts. I urge my colleagues to support 
this corrective measure.

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