THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, McCALL, DeWEESE, COHEN, MANN, BROWN, SIPTROTH, GOODMAN, KIRKLAND, McILVAINE SMITH, SHAPIRO, REICHLEY, FABRIZIO, DiGIROLAMO, BRIGGS, BOYLE, MELIO, PARKER, MARKOSEK, KORTZ, STABACK, GEORGE, ROEBUCK, MILLARD, BRENNAN, HOUGHTON, WHEATLEY, BEYER, LONGIETTI, VULAKOVICH, BUXTON, GRUCELA, WATSON, CALTAGIRONE, BRADFORD, DONATUCCI, SANTONI, READSHAW, EVERETT, ROSS, KILLION, FAIRCHILD, OLIVER, MYERS, GEIST, FLECK, SEIP, KULA, HESS, DERMODY, YOUNGBLOOD, MURT, PAYTON, WILLIAMS, JOHNSON, PRESTON AND BISHOP, AUGUST 31, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 31, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Proclaiming the week of August 30 through September 5, 2009, as

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines

Historically Black Colleges and Universities as "any

historically black college or university that was established

prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the

education of African Americans, and that is accredited by a

nationally recognized accrediting agency or association"; and

WHEREAS, There are currently 113 Historically Black Colleges

and Universities; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln University, located near Oxford in

southeastern Pennsylvania, was established in 1854 as the first

Historically Black College-University in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Institute for Colored Youth, a technical school

located in southeastern Pennsylvania, which was the first

institution of higher education for African Americans, was

founded in 1837 and would become Cheyney University of

Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have

served the young people of the United States since before the

Civil War; and

WHEREAS, Many great Americans, such as Thurgood Marshall,

Langston Hughes and Horace Mann Bond, have attended historically

black colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, While originally founded to serve African Americans,

today historically black colleges and universities offer all

students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their

skills and talents; and

WHEREAS, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a

source of accomplishment and great pride to the African-American

community, as well as the entire nation, training young people

who go on to serve domestically and internationally in their

professions in both the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, Organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma

Theta, Iota Phi Theta, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta

Phi Beta were founded at historically black colleges and

universities; and

WHEREAS, This year, Historically Black Colleges and

Universities Week is being celebrated from August 30, 2009, to

September 5, 2009; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim the week

of August 30 through September 5, 2009, as "Historically Black

Colleges and Universities Week" in Pennsylvania.