Rep. Chestnut Gives Selma University $31K to help with campus efforts

Rep. Chestnut and Selma University President  Stan Angion shakes hands in honor of check presentation.  | Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce

By Faith Callens

Special to the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information

On Tuesday, Rep. Prince Chestnut came to Selma University to present its president Dr. Stan Angion with a check of $31,000 to help with the university’s efforts to expand their technology and to contribute to their student support efforts.  

Angion told Chestnut during the check presentation on the steps of Dinkins Hall that he was delighted and grateful to receive such a generous contribution for the university.

“I want to thank him personally because I know how hard it is to fight for funding,” Angion said. “He’s been there with Selma University and for Selma University for several years since I’ve been here and so I personally want to say thank you. On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, I also want to say thank you and I think our entire campus community will greatly benefit from this donation.”

Angion said the generous donation will help the university enhance their internet services that they currently offer to the students of SU including their academic services support that they currently provide for the students as well.

“When I refer to internet access, we have computer labs that we make available to our students so that they will be able any time of the day to get on the website to complete activities and complete academic assignments. They also need student support services and that means that we have to have somebody who can provide access to these labs so that students can be able to come and get the help they need. So, with these funds we need to make sure that the computers are up and operational and that the students can get help when they need it.”

Chestnut said since the university is the only HBCU standing in his district, he wanted to make sure that he supported the university, especially at a crucial time when HBCUs are having a lot of funding issues.

“We need to keep these universities open,” Chestnut said.  “And I, myself am a graduate of an HBCU.”

Speaking of HBCUs, Governor Kay Ivey declared the month of October as HBCU Month on Oct. 1 and both Angion and Chestnut said that they stand firmly behind the governor’s latest proclamation.  

“I support the designation of October as HBCU month because it gives us an opportunity to agree with the governor that HBCUs are special and that we serve a population and a mission that many other universities do not serve, and the work that we’ve done in the past gives us an opportunity to highlight that. So, I am very delighted for this proclamation,” Angion said.

Like Angion, Chestnut said, “I have every indication from other legislators, as well as the governor, that they are supportive of HBCUs. In fact, we’ve been able to get Selma University some other funding as well within the budget through different collaborations with West Alabama and other universities. So, I think that the state stands firm and committed to furthering educational opportunities for everyone. HBCUs are part of the higher education system, and we want to make sure that we are supporting in every way possible.”

Angion said the university is a quite unique place for students to study because it stands out above any other college in the Selma area due to its true dedication to meet students where they are and to help them get to where they need to be successfully.  

“Now, you hear that cliché all the time, we meet students where they are, but many institutions just don’t because they are not equipped to, but we truly meet students where they are,” Angion said. “If a student comes in and they are barely are a C-student, we embrace you. We provide the academic skills and support services to help you get to the point where you can be a college level student.”

Angion said not only is the university known for its mission catered to student excellence, it also is known for its timeless buildings full of history.

“Dinkins Hall is our main administrative building,” Angion said. “We have classes in this building on the second and third floor and we have a 400-seat auditorium in this building, and it is one of our buildings among several others that are under renovation.”

Angion spoke about university’s other buildings like Pollard Hall, that will soon be a museum for the university which will feature a video conferencing center. Then, he spoke about the university’s science building that has been totally renovated with a new roof, a new paint job in the inside and out and he considers it “ready for use.” He also spoke about the university’s gymnasium and how it has a new roof as well, new doors and that it is a building that has more additions coming soon.

“The cafeteria is also undergoing a full renovation,” Angion said. “We just put a brand-new roof on it as well and we are putting a whole new design in place for it soon for students to be able to have a nice environment to eat and relax. So, we’ve done a whole lot this year and over the last couple of years or so, we have spent over $ 4 million dollars for campus renovations.”