Martin University Alumni Demand Leadership Change as School Pauses Operations

“Martin University Is Not Dead”: Alumni Push Back as Operations Pause

As Martin University prepares to pause operations, alumni and students are refusing to let Indiana’s only predominantly Black institution quietly fade out.

On Wednesday, December 17, members of the Martin University Alumni Association gathered outside the campus on Indianapolis’ near southeast side, calling for transparency, accountability, and a change in leadership. At the center of their demands is Board of Trustees Chairman Joseph Perkins, whose resignation alumni leaders are publicly requesting.

“I believe Joseph Perkins is trying to sell our university,” said Dwight McGill, president of the alumni association. “He won’t get on record, so I will. That’s why we’re saying Joe must go.”

Martin University announced it would pause operations at the end of the semester, a decision that included laying off all employees. The move sparked immediate concern across Indianapolis’ Black community, where Martin has long served nontraditional students like working adults, parents, and first-generation college attendees who are often overlooked by traditional higher education models.

Despite the announcement, alumni insist the institution is not closed and should not be treated as disposable.

“Martin University is not dead,” said Denell Howard, a local pastor and alumnus. “It’s an accredited university at a crossroads. Either you’re for Black excellence and Black education, or you’re not.”

In a statement, the university said Perkins serves as a volunteer chairman at the discretion of the Board of Trustees and that the board collectively decided to pause operations due to financial challenges and declining enrollment. The board also stated it is exploring ways to continue Martin’s mission of educating underrepresented populations.

For current students, the uncertainty is deeply personal. Casby Williams, one of approximately 200 enrolled students, is just two classes short of completing his degree.

“To be that close and have it ripped away is heartbreaking,” Williams said. “A lot of us are in the same position—almost done, now forced to figure out what comes next.”

Adding to the strain, the most recent Indiana state budget did not include $5 million previously allocated for the university. While Martin is a private institution, alumni leaders argue the school can still survive through coordinated support from graduates, local businesses, philanthropy, and the broader Indianapolis community.

At its core, the fight over Martin University is about more than finances—it’s about legacy, access, and who gets to decide the future of Black education in Indiana.

As alumni continue organizing and demanding answers, one message remains clear: Martin University’s story is not over, and its community is not done fighting for it.

Noir News will continue tracking developments surrounding Martin University and the broader implications for Black institutions and cultural preservation in Indiana.

SOURCE : https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/this-is-accountability-martin-university-alumni-call-for-new-leadership