Grambling State faces lawsuit from concerned alumni, others

    The Grambling University National Alumni Association and several others have filed a federal lawsuit against Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana Systems and others. The suit lists GUNAA, James Bradford, Pashawn Jones, Dr. Dorothy Alexander, Mayor Martha Andrus, Edward Jones, and others as the plaintiffs. The defendants are listed as the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, UL System President Sally Clausen, GSU President Horace Judson, GSU Vice President for Finance Billy Owens, and the Louisiana Board of Regents. The GUNAA did not want the conflict with the administration to result in a lawsuit. "We tried to avoid it," said James Bradford, former GUNAA president. Bradford said that he and others tried to meet with the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Judson and the governor, but to no avail. "A committee did meet with Clausen, Joseph Savoie, and Jimmy Clark," said Bradford. "They all promised they would get back with us and meet, but they didn’t do it. "Nobody would ever meet with us to talk about the complaints we had." Bradford, students and other alumni even signed a petition to have the ULS and GSU investigated to ensure that no violations were committed. That petition was hand-delivered to Gov. Kathleen Blanco. "The governor didn’t have the courtesy to acknowledge that she got the letter," Bradford said. After using every option that they had, Bradford said, he and others decided a lawsuit was necessary to get people’s attention. "We didn’t want to do it, but we are not happy with the university’s direction." That direction includes letting the consent decree expire. The original consent decree and settlement agreement occurred in 1994, which allowed GSU to remain an open admission school. "Now that the consent decree has expired on December 31, 2005, they are acting as if we do not have the open admissions as a part of the settlement," said Bradford. Bradford said that he wants the university to remain open admission to admit those students who perform well at Grambling and not elsewhere. Bradford also stated that the alumni group "is very concerned about the university maintaining its original role, scope and mission." With recent activities, such as Judson not speaking at the SWAC-MEAC Challenge reception once he saw Bradford, many have theorized that the lawsuit is a personal vendetta against Bradford and Judson. However, Bradford denies that theory. "Those who think the lawsuit is personal are standing out in the cold and don’t know it," said Bradford. "One could say I have a personal interest in Grambling. The lawsuit is definitely not personal. We’re trying to save Grambling State University." Judson could not be reached for comment at press time.consent decree and settlement agreement occurred in 1994, which allowed GSU to remain an open admission school. "Now that the consent decree has expired on December 31, 2005, they are acting as if we do not have the open admissions as a part of the settlement," said Bradford. Bradford said that he wants the university to remain open admission to admit those students who perform well at Grambling and not elsewhere. Bradford also stated that the alumni group "is very concerned about the university maintaining its original role, scope and mission."