Stephanie Paulino, Managing Editor:
Interim President Stanley Battle and Dr. Bill Cosby appeared together on NBC’s Today Show on Thursday, April 7, to discuss their efforts to close the achievement gap. President Battle and Dr. Cosby were interviewed live at NBC’s New York City studios.
“If you’re situated in, around or near a lower economic neighborhood, and you’re a university, you’re a part of the problem,” said Cosby, in an interview with Today Show host Meredith Vieira.
A crew from the show taped the recent march and rally for education at the Lincoln-Bassett School in New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood, as well as a meeting with community leaders on the Southern campus. Southern’s drumline led the march in Newhallville.
“We have to be able to attack and get in tune with what’s (happening) on the street,” said Battle. “In other words, you’ve got to go into the eye of the storm. You can’t wait for it to come to you.”
The recent visit was Cosby’s second to New Haven since last fall.
“You have to go in and be consistent,” said Battle. “Over time the consistency, the effort and the work will take care of itself.”
