Paul Quinn Alum speaks on school’s current situation

Anyone who has followed this blog for a while knows that I have championed the UNT-Dallas campus from the jump (see Education/Salvation or UNT-Dallas opens).  But there's already an institution of higher learning that calls Southern Dallas home.

Lately there has been a lot written about the future of Paul Quinn College.  Between the UNT-Dallas campus and the recent resignation of President and CEO Dr. John K. Wadell, there is definitely room for concern.  Paul Quinn relocated from Waco to its current location on Simpson Stuart Road in 1990.  The site was formerly occupied by Bishop College, which moved to Dallas from Marshall in 1961.  Bishop filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, and closed its doors in 1988.

I interviewed Paul Quinn alum Andre Williams about the school's current status.  He offers passionate and personal insight from a perspective that's been overlooked thus far.  He also suggests an interesting partner to help secure the school's future.

Mr. Williams was captain of the 1990 Paul Quinn basketball team that won the National Small School Athletic Association Championship.  He finished his career as Quinn's all-time leader in assists.  He also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity during his time on campus.  Andre graduated in 1990 and currently works as an assistant manager for EMC Mortgage.

DSB:  Andre, with the resignation of Dr. Waddell, Paul Quinn College will be looking for it's fourth leader since 2005.  Each change has been made for a different reason.  What do you think has contributed to the instability at the top?

AW:  In my opinion the individuals that have left did not have any love for Paul Quinn, they were simply stuffing their resume’ for what appears to be better situations for them.  That’s cool if that’s what you choose to do, but be up front when you interview and that way we know what we are dealing with. 

They have clauses that can be put in contracts that state if your dream job becomes available we will be glad to release you.  At some point you have to think of the young men and women who are affected.  This is a job in which you have to know is for the long haul.   

DSB:   How do the alumni feel about the situation?

AW:  Frustrated and shocked at the last guy because he put on this front and then snuck out without a word to the young people impacted.

DSB:   Do you think there's room for both UNT-Dallas and Paul Quinn College?

AW: At this point there will have to be.  I can’t say that I fully agreed with the decision at first because the same folks that did all of that to get the UNT-Dallas campus up and running could have put those efforts into helping Paul Quinn.  Yes we can coexist, but it will take a community effort and proud people to stand up for Paul Quinn.  Their ice does not get any colder than our ice and we have a history of running to their machines versus using our own.

DSB:   Colleges and Universities often search for external candidates to fill the position of president.  Is there anyone currently on staff at Paul Quinn who could lead the university through these challenging times?

AW:  We have done that and we are where we are now.  I believe Dr. Weldon Walton could do more for Paul Quinn if given the opportunity than any of the previous selections.  He has proven over the years that he could have gone anywhere in the country and been successful, but he remained at Paul Quinn.  We need someone who loves and cares about our school and he does.  He drives from Waco daily.  He is the first one there and the last one to leave.  That’s love. 

The science program at Paul Quinn has been successful for years under his direction.  When I was a student and pledged into Kappa Alpha Psi, he was one of the first people to congratulate me.  Dr. Weldon is not a member of my fraternity he is an Omega, but that did not matter because he cared about me the student. 

I ask Paul Quinn Alums to stand behind someone who has stood with us and someone who we know we can trust to be there for us.  Let’s give Dr. Weldon Walton a chance to be our President I am sure he has dreams for us, he always has.

DSB:   Finally, what course do you think Paul Quinn should take over the next few years to remain a viable part of the Dallas Community?   

AW: I am a firm believer that we have to tie into the community and the Bishop (College) Blue.  We have a strong history of what took place on the land where we reside as well as a rich history from Waco.  Let’s tie the two together and maybe name the school Bishop Paul Quinn College and get out here in Dallas and make it happen for our kids. 

We need a beautification process to take place at the school.  Let’s tear down those old buildings and put up some new ones that will attract folks that want to be a part of something viable in the south.  We have enough land to build a dream upon.  We have stopped dreaming as a people and as a community and we've let our kids down.  If Paul Quinn fails we fail as a people. 

We have to get more creative in how we market our school.  Right now our teacher programs are hot and we need to get the word out about what we are doing.  We have teachers from Paul Quinn in our area schools that are doing fabulous jobs. 

There are enough Bishop and Paul Quinn Alums and enough proud black people in this city in enough high-ranking positions to get the proper funding to the South and particularly to Simpson Stuart.  It’s not about begging, but we need help from wherever we can get it from.  Stop talking about us and help us if you can.