Shame on Amy J and Sam the Sham!

SHAME ON AMY J and SAM THE SHAM!

                          Algeania W. Freeman, Ph.D. 

On August 9, 2023, an article entitled, “45+Worst Colleges and Universities in America Ranked” was published by Amy J. in Avocadoposts.Com.  The same article was published on August 21, 2023, by Sam in WorldTravelling.Com. There is clear plagiarism here committed by Sam W. and Amy J.  Amy and Sam using the same duplicate words stated that the article was written based on their assessments of tuition costs, low graduation rates, and poor returns on investment in putting the institutions on the Worst List. There are many HBCU Alumni who have started to question the quality of the article, and they are wondering why so many HBCUs were put on this list.  The following are the questions that cause us to cry “foul.” 

1. Where did Amy and Sam obtain their research for the article and who are their research sources so we may examine their research credentials?
2. Why did Amy and Sam commit plagiarism, and is there implicit bias in their inclusion of so many HBCUs on the list?
3. What years were the research statistics based upon that Amy and Sam used for writing his article?

For example, how could Fayetteville State University be judged currently on having high tuition costs, when in-state students pay $1k tuition each year, and out-state students pay only $5k annually.  These tuition costs are some of the lowest tuition costs in the nation.

4. Did Amy and Sam visit the institutions to verify their assertions prior to publication of the plagiarized articles?

5. What are Amy’s and Sam’s research credentials for writing the article and making these unsubstantiated declarations about these 54 institutions? The most important article written by Amy appears to be “Backyard Movie Night.” It appears that in the past, Sam W. has written such significant articles as “Pamper Yourself Silly at These Top London Spas,” “The Ultimate Style Guide to Holiday Travel Wear,” and “40 Useful Facts and Trivia People Learned from Movies and TV Shows.”  It is indeed baffling how these two people writing these articles could then become the gurus of determining the quality of institutions of higher education without the research credentials or credibility for their adjudication. Perhaps, Amy J. and Sam W. need to stick to writing frivolous articles rather than belittling institutions that have contributed much to helping vulnerable persons change their life destinies. 

6. Twenty percent (20%) of the institutions listed in Amy J.’s and Sam W.’s article were HBCUs.  Amy and Sam failed to understand the contributions of HBCUs to the advancement of a nation and of an enslaved people who were brought to America in chains.  These HBCUs have throughout their existence been required to make bricks without straw. Black communities are required to pay taxes, but the amount of taxes paid does not return to our institutions so they too can be in the same class as the Ivy League institutions referenced by Amy J. and Sam W. that they want to compare the HBCU institutions. For example, in the great state of my most beloved North Carolina, my birthing place, Fayetteville State University is the second oldest public institution in the state; however, the institution languished as it saw other institutions founded after it get all the financial resources that they needed to provide what was and is perceived to be a better education. How can the institutions be starved; yet, expected to be judged by the same questionable standards. Abby Schultz (May 2, 2023) stated in Barron’s Penta that “the average Ivy League institution received 178 times more funding than the average HBCU…the funding disparities are so striking…” While the doors of access to educational opportunities appear to be diminishing for Blacks, “giving to HBCU’s by large foundations has fallen significantly in recent years, dropping to $45 million in 2019 from $65 million in 2003” (Candid, May 2, 2023). With the recent affirmative action ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, HBCUs are needed now more than ever before, because education is empowerment in every area of American life. Dr. Steven Rogers (January 17, 2023), retired professor of business from Harvard, stated that “The need for donations to black colleges and universities remains great…Despite the financial constraints they face, these schools still provide a wonderful education to more than 300,000 students annually…with 80% of all Black judges today attended an HBCU, as did 50% of Black lawyers, 50% of Black doctors, 40% of black members of Congress, 13% of Black Corporate CEOs, and the first Black Vice President…” So, Amy J. and Sam W. need to examine the historic systemic factors that have contributed to the HBCUs not reaching their measurement standards even if their data may be accurate, which we question the validity.

7. Why does Fayetteville State University continue to be listed on these sham or shameful lists that have no credible research or citation of their research sources to back up their assertions.  Fayetteville State University is a high functioning institution of higher education that is serving and partnering with America’s largest military installation. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Alston was the 2023 Commencement Speaker for Fayetteville State University.  For the record, Fayetteville State University “offers free tuition for military connected students-veteran, active duty, reservist, spouse or dependent.  Moreover, for all in state students, the tuition is $1K per year and only $5K per year for out of state students.” Rather than serving only the elite in society as Amy’s and Sam’s article suggests to us should be done, Fayetteville State University and many HBCUs serve many poor and vulnerable persons.  Fayetteville State University has taken many impoverished persons from eastern North Carolina who would not have access to a collegiate education if Fayetteville State University did not take them from where they are to where they should go.  Fayetteville State University has been in the business of producing greater leaders since 1867 when slaves and their descendants were crying for freedom. It is the second oldest state supported institution in North Carolina. As one example of the graduates, Fayetteville State produces, we call your attention to Mr. Nicholas Perkins who is the owner of Fuddruckers and Ms. Charlene Austin who is the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, an Advisor for the Military Child Education Coalition, and a board member for the Military Family Research Institute of Purdue University. Fayetteville State University took a girl who picked cotton, barned tobacco, and picked up sweet potatoes, nurtured and educated her so that she could serve as the President of two colleges and two universities educating over 30,000 other vulnerable persons to help make our world a better place as well as making history in being the only person to save the accreditation of four institutions of higher education, establishing two NASA SEMAA laboratories in desperately poor communities, serving twice as a US Pentagon Fellow, and serving as an International Healthcare Consultant in Southern Africa. So, Amy J. and Sam W., we would say that is a great demonstration of earned dividends on an educational investment. Fayetteville State University is on a very positive trajectory. Fayetteville State Alumni are proud of the investment that their alma mater made in helping them to have better futures. We are BRONCO PROUD!

8. There seemed to be several institutions listed in your article who have women Presidents/CEOs.  As a woman, I cannot sit idly by and see my Sister Presidents have their institutions attacked when they are rendering exceptional service to the institutions with meager support resources. For example, I can personally attest to the phenomenal work that is being performed at Shaw University by Dr. Paulette Dillard as the 18th President of Shaw University where the first black medical school was housed. Please pay a visit to Shaw University so you can see for yourself the progressive work, and while you are there in Raleigh, North Carolina, please pay a visit to St. Augustine’s University another institution headed by a woman President that is on the list. Rather than speaking negative about the institutions, please invite your readers and supporters to send a contribution or donation to these institutions who for years have produced superb leaders while operating as under-resourced institutions. 

9.

Amy and Sam, you owe Fayetteville State University and all the other 11 HBCUs listed on your subjective list an apology.  Finally, Amy J. and Sam W., I invite you to take a physical tour with me of Fayetteville State University or any other HBCUs listed in your flawed article. Next year, I want to see at least one HBCU listed among your recommended 2024 travel destinations, and it will be my gracious pleasure to help you identify such an institution or institutions.