This is more of an early Bethune-Cookman wish list than a Christmas list. However, as Christmas is just a few days away, now would be a good time to write down the vision. As the new year draws near, I’ve been sitting and thinking about a few things I’d like to see from our institution. In any case, have a look and let me know if this list (in no particular order) resonates with you. What would you add or eliminate?
No. 1 – A President
Bethune-Cookman has been without a permanent President for 2 years, 9 months, and 3 days. That is far too long. There are many unanswered questions about the institution, none more important than “When will we get a leader?” To be honest, it’s the most fair and logical question anyone connected with the school could ask. The present administration attempted to make the process more public last year by including a Presidential Search micro site on the school website. It was a thoughtful gesture, but after all this time, I’m not sure it meant much.
For reference, Jackson State began their presidential search on March 23, 2023. They concluded their search and hired Dr. Marcus Thomas on November 16, 2023. That process was a total of Seven months. So, the bigger question is why has it taken us nearly 3 years to hire a new president?
I don’t think it can be understated how critical a leader can be to the health and the outlook of the school. To be fair Bethune-Cookman isn’t the only school with this issue. HBCU’s have found it difficult in recent years to hire and retain its leaders. So, it’s not just us.
That aside, we still need a new President. We are all excited for the day that we can hire someone who will outline the vision of the school for the next 5, 10, may be even 20 years. Will we ever see a visionary leader like Dr. Bronson again? They say good things come to those who wait, but no one thought we’d be waiting this long.
No. 2 – Alumni Unity
We’ve witnessed the strength of our Alumni base dwindle in ways we hadn’t thought imaginable during the last few years. This lack of clarity and organization among the Alumni class has resulted in infighting, misunderstandings, poor communication, misinformation, conflicts, and so on. Simply put, the alumni association is in disorder. That isn’t to imply that efforts to rebuild the group have been futile. The newly formed DSO, named the BCUAA, has done an admirable job in rebuilding the organization. The issue is that the Dr. Mary Mcloed Bethune National Alumni Association is still “technically” a thing, which is where things have gotten murky.
Most, if not all, alumni were upset when the administration filed suit against the original association created by Dr. Bethune herself, the Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune National Alumni Association. Most of us still don’t understand why it came to this in the first place, but that’s beside the point now. The trust that the Alumni once placed in the institution has greatly diminished. The challenge now is, how do we get all alumni on the same page again? I believe the institution must address this issue. Without a strong alumni base, no school can reach its full potential. This is what I hope will change in 2024. If we can get past this hurdle, a lot of things will start to fall into place, but it all starts with the school reestablishing good will with the alumni base.
No 3. – Increased Giving
Alumni, listen to me. I know it’s hard to dig in your wallet and willingly give to an institution in which you have developed trust issues with. Trust me, I get it and I share that same sentiment. However, we’ve got to make sure that our lack of financial participation doesn’t compound other issues that currently plague the school. That’s not to say that alumni-giving solves all our financial woes, but it can greatly help the economic outlook of the institution. Furthermore, strong alumni giving percentages help drive big donations from big donors. Why would a big donor cut a check to a school when its own alumni wont? It’s giving red flag vibes, seriously.
My plan in 2024 is to urge Alumni to ease back into giving small dollar donations. Do this until you feel comfortable increasing your giving. $20 a month isn’t a lot. But when 5,000 alumni give $20 a month, the math really starts to math.
So, in 2024 I am challenging myself and others to set aside your differences with the institution and simply give. Now, I understand if that may be difficult for some, but the students still need us whether you decide to give or not. For my bible thumpers out there, 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “As every man wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver”. Let’s be better about giving in 2024.
No 4. – Good News or No News
This may feel like a shot at the institution but it’s not, this is a tough love moment. It seems like over the past several years, we’ve been in the news for issues that were either self-inflicted or completely avoidable. For example, the Ed Reed fiasco. This was a PR nightmare that was handled as poorly as a collegiate institution could. Not only did we end up having the eye of the world thrust upon our campus for weeks, but the whole thing ended in mass student protest. Our PR department was caught flat-footed and as a result, we helplessly watched our school take a beating at a time where it just couldn’t afford to. In 2024, let not do that. Let’s make sure we tell our stories before the media and the public does. Additionally, let’s find creative ways to curate the Bethune Cookman experience and raise the brand profile of the institution. Let’s get back to telling the stories of the students and the people who make this university special.
There’s a lot to love about B-CU but no one will know unless we tell them. So in this next year, let’s see if we can get 12-scandal-fiasco-PR nightmare-free months. We owe it to ourselves to have the best year we’ve had in years. The Board of Trustees and the current administration have done an admirable job of getting the business of the school back on track. But an area of opportunity for us is bragging on ourselves as an institution. Let’s also do more of that in 2024.
No 5. – More Marching Wildcats
Let me preface what I am about to say with the fact that I completely understand that it cost a lot of money to move the band. Anytime they leave the campus to do anything, it likely cost thousands of dollars, so trust, I get it. That aside, since Bethune-Cookman joined the SWAC, we have not seen The Pride travel to many games outside Daytona. Personally, I would love to see The Marching Wildcats battle The Jukebox in Baton Rouge or The Sonic Boom in Jackson. These are venues that this program has either never traveled to or it’s been decades since.
More importantly, the Marching Wildcats have been the brightest shining organization on the campus for a long time. They’ve had the tough but worthwhile responsibility of generating lots positive exposure for our school for years. Movies, commercials, Superbowl appearances, Netflix shows, they are half the reason people even know about BCU in the first place. When the band makes an appearance anywhere, it’s easily one of the most effective marketing assets we own. No one else can do what they do with the excellence in which they do it. The Marching Wildcats are a guaranteed “W” every time they leave the campus. But over the past few years it appears like they’ve been benched for being too good. What’s up with that? My wish for them is to be seen more in 2024. More games, more performances, more exhibitions. Why? Because everyone loves the band.
All hail to thee.
I agree with all of this! I would love to see the band field actually PAINTED like the football/practice field. With it being 1 of the focal points of our institution not only will it raise moral but it will help raise the brand!
I love all of these points and I have nothing to add or take away.