Jackson Free Press

Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr.'s announcement last week that he will be ending his 10-year stint at JSU and taking the reins at Louisiana's Southern University and A&M College System in Louisiana, received a mixed response from the community.

Mason told the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning that he would miss his Jackson campus."I thank the IHL Board and the JSU community for the opportunity to serve such a great institution and city. I looked forward to each day's work for the last ten years," Dr. Mason stated in an IHL press release. "JSU is a special place and I will miss it."

Mason's critics, like Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, blasted him in January after he circulated a proposal embracing Gov. Haley Barbour's call to consolidate the state's historically black colleges and universities, including Alcorn University and Mason's own JSU. Jordan complained that Mason wanted to reduce Mississippi Valley State University to an intermediate college, while JSU offered the brunt of new educational courses, forcing many Delta students to relocate to Jackson for their higher education.

"I'm trying to save Mississippi Valley State University, which the Delta so desperately needs, and here you have a person who is head of an HBCU, advocating merging the university with the others. It wastes my time talking to a man with that kind of mindset," said Jordan, who added that he refused to take calls from Mason soon after his January proposal hit the media. "... Up here in the Delta, Valley State is pretty much the only hope that many young people have. It's not like down in Jackson, where you have more options. I don't think Mason can understand that."

Mason still has plenty of supporters, however, who point to the sheer magnitude of growth JSU experienced under his direction.

"We commend Dr. Ronald Mason for the outstanding leadership and service he has given to Jackson State University," said Barron Banks in a statement. Banks is a member of Jacksonians For Progress, a collection of JSU graduates lobbying for Mason's retention. "Although we hope that Dr. Mason will remain in his position as president of the university, we understand that others also recognize the high caliber of leadership and expertise that we have experienced for over 10 years, and they desire the same."

Jacksonians for Progress member Deshun Martin praised Mason's alternative thinking, despite the fact that his most recent proposal enraged many black Democrats in the House and Senate: "We want to strongly state that we believe diversity of opinions in our community is positive and will aid us in our long-term development," Martin said in a Jacksonians For Progress statement. "However we also believe, at this juncture, our university would be better served to have Dr. Ronald Mason continue in his presidency."

Mason spoke at the Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon today at noon. Follow Jacksonfreepress.com for updates.