September 19, 2007
In his first formal address to the
student body this school term,
President Michael Sorrell shared his
vision for Paul Quinn College.
Citing four areas—academic
greatness, customer service, recruit-
ment and fundraising, Mr. Sorrell
said the historically Black college
would become known as a “great
liberal arts institution.”
“This is a school for serious
students,” he said to applause,
as he expounded on what he
called the “Golden Age of
Paul Quinn College.”
“A lot of people made sac-
rifices for you to be here.”
Acknowledging that there
are several problems the
school is dealing with, Mr.
Sorrell encouraged students,
faculty and staff members in atten-
dance at the Opening School
Convocation last week to work
together and to not discourage
others from attending Paul
Quinn.
“I know some of you are
doing just that,” he said.
“But when you do, you hurt
the school.”
On the job for about
seven months, Mr. Sorrell is
the third President in less
than two years. Since
coming on board, the most public
controversy he has dealt with aside
from funding issues is the school-wide dress code that he instituted.
Freshman students were
informed about the dress
code prior to enrolling and
still elected to attend. And
some have been very vocal
about their opposition.
But Mr. Sorrell has
remained firm, saying that he
was working to “change the
culture” at the 134 year-old
institution.
“I’m the person if you’re
having problems I’m no
more than a phone call
away,” he continued, telling
students that he was not
accustomed to failure and
that there was an expectation
that they would excel.
Complimenting the fresh-
man class, which he said is
better academically than
many previous entering
classes, Mr. Sorrell told the
students that mediocrity was
not an option for them--
instead they would be
prepared to be productive
members of society.
“People don’t pay you to
be mediocre,” he said. “I
have expectations of you as
well. I have no patience for
mediocrity. We’re all in this
together.”
As he continued his
speech, Mr. Sorrell appeared
to be winning students over
with his candor and straight-
forward approach which he
attributes to his desire to be
accountable and “transpar-
ent.”
He talked about condi-
tions on campus and received
applause upon announcing a
big change in the future.
“In two years we will have
new dorms,” he said, while
also pointing out to the male
occupants that their living
conditions were better now
since they were moved from
the men’s dormitory to two
floors in the women’s
facility.
“I’ve walked the floors of
the boys dormitory and you
can’t tell me that your living
conditions haven’t improved
drastically,” he said.
In addition to the dress
code and an emphasis on
customer service, Mr. Sorrell,
who describes himself as a
health enthusiast says he will
also focus on health.
“We’re going to be a healthy
campus,” he said. “We are
going to be in shape and eat
right.”
Dispelling a notion that
people of color are more
inclined to eat the wrong
foods and show little to no
concern about their health,
Mr. Sorrell says he works out
six days a week and encour-
ages a healthy lifestyle.
“I know he’s concerned
about this institution and he
shows it in everything he
does,” said Alphonso Jack-
son, Paul Quinn’s VP for
Fiscal Affairs & Admini-
strative Services.
According to Mr. Sorrell,
he’ll be very visible in
coming months as he recruits
new students as he works to
achieve an ambitious goal.
“Our goal is to have 2000
students,” he explained,
adding that everyone,
including students, faculty
and alumni will have to
recruit. “It’s going to take
sacrifice, hard work and
passion.”
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