by William R. Muhammad
Special to the Times
UAB is facing the greatest crisis of its history. This crisis supersedes the canceling of its football program. President Ray Watts, who many have suspected was Chancellor Whitt’s personal choice and puppet, lied to Birmingham’s Mayor, City Council, UAB’s football coach, faculty and students. The president of a university is the face of the university. He is the ambassador of goodwill between the university, alumni, faculty, students, employees and the community. Ray Watts has damaged the position of President of UAB by being such a consummate liar and puppet. He has virtually destroyed 45 years of goodwill built by all the former UAB presidents. In order for UAB to survive this disaster it must make a bold move; a non-traditional outside the box move. That move, in my opinion, would be to make Dr. George Munchus its next President.
It was UAB that developed the slogan “Fifty Years Forward” last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. Now it’s time for UAB to live up to its philosophy, by moving forward with the appointment of a Black president. Dr. George Munchus is a full professor with 32 years of service. He is well known on campus, in Birmingham’s corporate boardrooms and in the community.
UAB has many ills that the canceling of the football program was just a minor part of. UAB is stuck in the past of white privilege, while presenting the disingenuous face of being the area’s leader of equality and diversity. UAB has 1800 white faculty, but only 120 Black faculty and half of them are in the School of Health (hospital). UAB has few Blacks in upper management, most Blacks work in housekeeping or are secretaries. UAB does very little business with Black firms even though it receives billions in federal and state tax money. Even though UAB sits in downtown Birmingham, it has failed to offer any help to the Birmingham School System to improve academic achievement. When UAB happens to hire Black faculty, they face discrimination and failure to gain tenure because of white privilege.
Dr. George Munchus can take UAB forward in the areas that he has championed for 32 years – equity and diversity. He has started programs to help Birmingham City school students increase ACT scores. He has encouraged students to attend college. Dr. Munchus will connect UAB and the communities that surround it. This will lead to 50 years of progress in reality.
The best qualified person to serve as financial director would be one of Dr. Munchus’ best friends, Jackie Robinson, III.
This is what this institution needs.
