The debate continues over the possibility of a merger of Mississippi‘s historically black colleges and universities.

Members of the Mississippi Coalition on Black Higher Education rallied outside the Jackson State e-Center around lunchtime Thursday. They called for the resignation of president Ronald Mason, who issued a proposal to combining Alcorn, Mississippi Valley, and Jackson State Universities under the name of one institution: Jacobs State University.

The coalition not only wants to squash any plans for a merger, but also to quiet any talk about the idea, saying it’s already hurting the schools.

Professor Ivory Phillips said, “Ee would like to cease talk about mergers because these universities are already experiencing recruitment problems because of this talk about mergers. Kids are wondering should I go there because it may be closed.”