To: Dr. Dennis J. Shields, President of Southern System & Board of Supervisors of Southern System
Dear President Shields & Board of Supervisors,
I write to you today not only as the Student Government Association President of Southern University at Shreveport, but as the elected voice of students who have repeatedly been left feeling dismissed, misinformed, and neglected under our current campus leadership.
Since the beginning of my administration, my executive team and I have made it our mission to bridge the gap between students and administration. However, that mission has been made nearly impossible due to a consistent lack of transparency, collaboration, and respect from the highest levels of campus leadership. Chancellor Aubra J. Gantt has not once met with my executive board — not during student emergencies, and not during periods when student input was critical. Even after multiple requests, including pressing “SOS” student concerns, those requests were either denied, ignored, or indefinitely delayed.
There have even been situations where I had to reach out to members of the Southern University Board of Supervisors and other system leaders for help or security, simply because I could not get a response from our own Chancellor. When those outreach efforts finally prompted action, I was met with frustration from Dr. Gantt for involving others — no concern for the issues at hand.
One of the most glaring recent examples involved the decision to extend Friday class schedules in Fall 2025. It was publicly stated that SGA had been consulted on this decision — yet we were not. In response to pushback, a town hall meeting was called, where SGA sat front row voicing deep concerns. Many shared that this change would interfere with their jobs and family commitments — for some, the shortened Friday schedule was the reason they chose SUSLA. As students raised their hands for answers, Dr. Gantt offered vague reassurances and eventually said she had to leave, walking out of the meeting while students still had their hands in the air.
Even more disheartening was that, before and after this meeting, many students had already begun expressing frustrations that Dr. Gantt was only visible to students during photo opportunities — never in moments where they truly needed her presence or leadership. That town hall confirmed their beliefs. Students were left with the impression that their voices were not valued beyond publicity.
This lack of regard extended beyond scheduling. My SGA email account was disabled by Chancellor Gantt after I sent an email to staff raising concerns voiced by students. This kind of action reflects not only suppression of student leadership but a larger refusal to work with those elected to represent the student body.
Additionally, the disconnect between Dr. Gantt and the Dean of Students, Latari Fleming, created major communication issues. Student Affairs was regularly left out of important information but expected to step in and fix problems as they arose. Despite being called on to carry much of the student support burden, that office was rarely thanked or properly acknowledged. When Dean Fleming was forced to depart, SGA and student life were left in disarray. To this day, we have no permanent Dean or Director, which means the new SGA administration won’t receive the structure, mentorship, or resources they need to lead effectively. That isn’t just unfortunate — it’s a failure of leadership.
My administration has been overlooked during key campus efforts where we could have offered meaningful support. We’ve watched as critical student leadership positions — like SGA President and Campus Queen — remain unfilled due to the postponed election. This raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and the overall commitment to student representation.
While the university did see a 7% enrollment increase during this recent year, that growth is widely credited to the leadership and tireless efforts of Dr. Hill, the former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Rather than being celebrated, Dr. Hill was forced to resign under the label of “poor performance”—a move that raised serious concerns among students, faculty, and staff who witnessed his positive & powerful impact firsthand.
This isn’t an emotional outreach or a disagreement with one person. It’s a larger, ongoing pattern that has left students without answers, without representation, and without faith that their voices truly matter. We want to work with our leadership, but that leadership must also want to work with us. Respect is not given freely; it must be mutual.
As the Student Government Association President, it is disheartening to report that the students I represent feel consistently dismissed, demoralized, and unheard. While faculty and staff have raised their own formal concerns, I speak now on behalf of the student’s voice—a voice that has been silenced too many times under the current leadership.
For the sake of our campus climate, student development, and the institutional integrity of Southern University at Shreveport, I must formally express No Confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Aubra J. Gantt. I respectfully request her removal as Chancellor and urge the Southern University Board of Supervisors and the System President to act quickly in appointing leadership that believes in transparency, collaboration, and student development.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I urge you to take these concerns seriously, as they reflect the experience of far more students than just myself. SUSLA deserves better. Our students deserve to be heard, not silenced.
Respectfully,
Marlon D Davenport
THEE 57 Student Government Association President
Southern University at Shreveport