COLUMBUS — Mississippi University for Women”s new president says it”s time to build.
Allegra Brigham, MUW”s interim president, called for peace and cooperation among fractured alumni groups Thursday during the annual meeting of the Lowndes County Chapter of Mississippi”s First Alumnae Association.
In front of a packed house at the Columbus Country Club, with members of MUW”s current Alumni Association and the disaffiliated Mississippi”s First Alumni Association, she personally apologized on behalf of the university to the presidents of each group and to “all stakeholders” for the rift which occurred during former president Dr. Claudia Limbert”s tenure.
“The damage done over the past few years during the previous administration was more devastating than we can comprehend. It damaged the credibility and reputation of the school,” said Brigham.
She acknowledged the bad blood had prompted many alums to cease financial contributions at the worst possible time.
“At a time we needed to elevate our support, it was diminishing,” she said.
Disagreements over Limbert”s policies and goals for MUW led to the disaffiliation of the First Alumnae group — formerly the MUW Alumnae Association — in 2008. The alumni group sued Limbert, The W and the College Board to stop the disaffiliation. But the case went all the way to the state Supreme Court, which upheld Limbert”s decision.
With enrollment stagnant and an anticipated 25 percent funding shortfall in 2011 from 2010 levels, Brigham said MUW needs to raise $2 million just to maintain current programs and services.
Among the community, the alumni squabble has led many business leaders to distance themselves from MUW.
“The leaders in this town say this cat fight needs to end. That”s how they refer to it,” said Brigham, former CEO of 4-County Electric Power Association. She retired from the company early to lead MUW while the College Board searches for a permanent replacement for Limbert, who retired last month. “It”s very uncomfortable to be the only woman in a board meeting and hear that.”
But that”s the past, she says. Now, “We must rock.”
Tuning up
Comparing all MUW stakeholders to an orchestra, Brigham says it”s time for individual groups to stop tuning up and begin playing in harmony.
“What”s in the past is done. In order to move forward, we can”t keep going back to rehash what did or didn”t happen. In any broken relationship, if one party keeps bringing up the past, reconciliation can”t happen,” she said.
Brigham even joked she planned to keep a bell on her at all times and to ring it any time someone began dwelling on the past.
Instead, she says alumni must focus on recruiting new students, donating generously and speaking positively about MUW.
V3 e-college
If the alumni need something new and exciting to rally behind, Brigham suggested MUW”s new V3 e-college. V3 stands for veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered), which relates to students” ability to take control of their destiny, explained Dr. Bill Mayfield, dean of the School of Professional Studies at MUW and director of V3.
“It”s filling a unique niche that has not ever been filled before in our state,” she said.
Bill said the fledgling school”s enrollment had grown to 41 as of Thursday with 118 potential students in the pipeline.
Alumni response
Responding to Brigham”s call for unity, presidents of both alumni groups expressed support for the sentiment.
“I”m very encouraged. We should never ever slam the door on solving our problems,” said Lillian Wade, who became president of Mississippi”s First Alumnae Association in April. “I”m concerned about The W, but I think we have the opportunity to overcome the adversity of the economic situation and we will do it together.”
Mitzi Green, president of the MUW Alumni Association, echoed those sentiments.
“Most definitely, this is possible. With all of us working together, just based on the group that is here today and that we all had the opportunity to hear President Brigham”s presentation. She is right on with all that we need to do. We all have the common love of the university at heart so, no doubt, we can do this,” said Green.
Both presidents agreed the alumni associations would do well to continue holding joint meetings in the future to foster communication and cooperation, but neither committed to facilitating those meetings.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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