The remains of George Floyd are seen during a memorial service in his honor on June 4, 2020, at … [+]
Speaking at today’s memorial service for George Floyd, the black guy whose killing at the hands and under the knee of a Minneapolis policeman has actually provoked days of national protests and outrage, a university president challenged every institution of higher learning in America to develop a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in memory of Mr. Floyd.
The obstacle was made by Scott Hagen, President of North Central University, a small Christian university in downtown Minneapolis. North Central University hosted the memorial service for Mr. Floyd, participated in by friends, household members, and invited visitors. The eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Al Sharpton.
At the start of the service, Dr. Hagen, the president of the university, revealed that his organization was establishing a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship and he urged every college in the United States to likewise develop a comparable scholarship.
“I am now challenging every university president in the United States to establish your own George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund,” Dr. Hagen announced.
Hagen stated that North Central University has already received about $53,000 in assistance of the brand-new scholarship fund.
Hagen told the jam-packed sanctuary, with a lot of those present using masks as defense versus the deadly coronavirus,” So individuals throughout this country can provide to the college of their option, it is time to invest like never before in a new generation of young black Americans who are poised to take management of our country, so university presidents let’s step up together.” The audience rose to its feet with cheers, amens, and applause.
The current killings of African Americans – consisting of Mr Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery – have led university leaders throughout the nation to reveal outrage about racial oppression and require promises of reform. But, as I have actually already recommended, what is eventually required from higher education leaders is action that alters the policies and habits of the institutions they lead – especially in the area of admissions and enrollment.
Dr. Hagen’s require university leaders to develop scholarships in the memory of Mr. Floyd will not resolve greater education’s issues of unequal access for bad and minority students. It will not erase the problems and practices of privilege that leave out numerous students from having the ability to gain a quality education. It will not end racial prejudice. However as a simple symbol of compassion and as an invitation to minority students that “this college wants you here,” Dr. Hagen stated what higher education needed to hear and now need to address.