INSTITUTE, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Jim Justice made a stop Tuesday afternoon to the West Virginia State University campus to highlight the HBCU Arts Act, which he is co-sponsoring.
West Virginia State, an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) school, would be one of many institutions benefiting from the legislation under consideration by federal officials.
Justice maintained that despite some attempts from previous West Virginia leadership to diminish the arts, their importance remains.
“That one time, there was folks within our state that decided, you know, the best thing for us is to just defund the arts and culture or put it over in education and just shove it to the back of the room,” Justice said. “Big time mistake in my book. And we didn’t do that, because it is absolutely our soul, and absolutely that is the only way to look at this.”
Justice said that supporting the arts is supporting what makes West Virginia great.
“Why give up our heritage of who we are in West Virginia?” Justice said. “Why not here do more and more things we can possibly do that will perpetuate arts and culture and education, and on and on. It is as simple as just that. When we lose our identity, we lose everything, to me.”
West Virginia State University President Ericke Cage said the HBCU Arts Act would boost the efforts the school is already doing.
“I think it’s about continuing the work that we’re doing now,” Cage said. “This bill will allow us to invest more in our arts program. Whether it be the facilities, faculty, or students; I’m just excited about the potential that lies ahead with this piece of legislation.”
Cage said it’s incredibly important to have Justice’s support. He said students learn so much through the arts.
“The arts really bring us all together across many, many different backgrounds and many different differences,” Cage said. “They allow us to tell stories across many different mediums, about who we are as a people. Talk about our past, our present, and our incredible future.”
Justice highlighted that his time as governor included supporting the arts, and continuing those efforts is important. He noted that the bill is bipartisan, and is hopeful that it passes through the federal process. He also received a piece of artwork from a WVSU graduate and raved about her talent.
Supporting students has to be a priority going forward, Justice said, including at State.
“This school, if I could just say just this, Dr. Cage does an amazing job,” Justice said. “But we in West Virginia left this school out many times. Many times, this school got the crumbs. Absolutely, that’s no good.”
The legislation would allow more investment in West Virginia State arts programs, Cage said, expanding infrastructure and supporting its faculty. He said that WVSU is invaluable to the state, with programming to its extension service that impacts all 55 West Virginia counties.
“HBCUs, in general and certainly West Virginia State, in particular, we believe that we make an incredible impact in the state of West Virginia,” Cage said. “As an 1890 land grant institution, we proudly provide services, not just to our students in our campus, but to all of the citizens of West Virginia.”