LITTLE ROCK — State Rep. John Walker, a longtime civil-rights lawyer, told fellow black legislators Monday that they needed to be strong advocates for helping the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and that they shouldn’t settle for “crumbs.”
Walker spoke repeatedly during a meeting of the Legislative Black Caucus, drawing a scolding from Caucus Chairman Rep. Tracy Steele, who told Walker to stop speaking out of turn. Walker ignored Steele and kept talking.
UAPB Chancellor Lawrence Davis Jr. asked the caucus for its support of his $3 million plan to build a new science education facility. Davis said his campus is often treated unfairly, including by someone he wouldn’t name who is “anti-everything we’re trying to do.”
Steele, D-North Little Rock, beat Walker, D-Little Rock, in a race for the caucus chairmanship last fall and for a state Senate seat in 2002.
Walker thanked Davis for standing up for UAPB.
“We don’t have a single person from your institution on the UA board,” Walker said. “There is always a token African-American on the board. Most of the people who serve on the board appear to have disdain not only for black people but for the institution [UAPB] itself.”
Walker said the Legislature hasn’t done enough to help UAPB, where he received a bachelor’s degree. He asked Davis to host a “no holds barred” conference at UAPB to discuss its problems. Davis agreed to do that.
Steele tried to let others talk, but Walker didn’t stop.
“Mr. Walker ... Mr. Walker ... Mr. Walker,” Steele said, trying to get Walker’s attention.
“With all due respect Mr. Chairman -” Walker responded.
“You cannot dominate,” Steele said. “We have four people on the list for questions. They have just as much right to speak as you do.”
“Mr. Steele, we are all equals here,” Walker said.
“We are equal,” Steele said. “That’s why the other members have a right to speak as well.”
“Mr. Steele -” Walker began.
“We will not allow you to monopolize all the time,” Steele said. “How much time do you need, sir?”
“I’m not answering that,” Walker said. “I want to finish my statement.”
Walker then said that the science proposal by UAPB wasn’t enough. He said he wanted UAPB to think about how to “equalize” with other University of Arkansas System institutions.
UAPB is the only historically black college in the UA System.
Sen. Jack Crumbly, D-Widener, said UAPB has longstanding problems but UAPB should work to get what it can under “existing conditions. I applaud them. Yes, there is an unlevel playing field. Sometimes we have to take baby steps.”
Walker said he took issue with Crumbly’s statement, likening it to settling for “crumbs.”
There are 16 members of the black caucus, four in the Senate and 12 in the House.
Rep. Hank Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, said he would file legislation for the science facility at UAPB and would ask each member of the caucus to contribute from any share they might get to appropriate from the General Improvement Fund, the source of money the Legislature generally spends on a variety of capital projects.
Rep. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, said the caucus members need to work together.
“Our enemy is still our enemy, which is Satan, and he doesn’t care how he divides us,” Murdock said. “There is strength in unity. Everything negative that is happening, let’s get rid of that.”
Davis said his institution doesn’t have the resources that the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has, partly because of a lack of donations from alumni. He said that’s always a barrier when seeking grants from charitable foundations.
He said he was bothered by treatment he received during an audit. He didn’t give details but later said that he was treated unfairly compared with recent problems at the University of Central Arkansas. In 2009, the Arkansas Legislative Audit Division released an audit that called into question several UCA financial practices, primarily under former President Lu Hardin’s administration. Davis said UCA received a “slap on the wrist.”
He said some people he wouldn’t name have talked about making all students who need remediation in high school courses first go to community colleges.
He said that wouldn’t be fair to black students, about 94 percent of whom he estimated must be remediated.
After the meeting, Steele and Walker each said that their differences during the meeting had nothing to do with the caucus election for chairman.
University of Arkansas System President B. Alan Sugg said later in an interview that he “completely disagrees” with Walker’s saying that UA trustees have disdain for black people and UAPB.
“There is no question that UAPB is very important,” Sugg said. “I take responsibility to be sure that UAPB is funded fairly and is supported well within the system office. I plan to meet with Rep. Walker to find out more information about why he is saying what he is saying.”
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 01/25/2011