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Southern University and A&M College hosted a special guest Sunday, awarding her a special recognition after she visited with the chancellor, ROTC students and mass communication department students.

That's a somewhat normal course of life on a university campus. Prominent people, prominent alumni and prominent donors visit campus, talk with students, faculty and/or staff, perhaps at a convocation, a graduation or an event organized just for them.

This one was well received by those involved, but a group of Southern alumni didn't take it well at all. So much so that they posted a letter expressing disappointment on a private Facebook group and sent the letter to Southern Chancellor John Pierre.

"Many alumni of the Southern University Mass Communication Department are outraged and disappointed by Southern University, Baton Rouge Chancellor John K. Pierreโ€™s move to honor Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner," the letter reads. "Over the years, Faulkner and her network have repeatedly exhibited a lack of connection and coverage on issues revolving around African Americans. This includes Faulknerโ€™s biased and disappointing showing during a panel discussion with now President Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention & Job Fair last year in Chicago."

They want a meeting with the chancellor to talk about why it was a bad move. The group wants Pierre to rescind the award.

That's not going to happen, of course.

The letter is signed by Philadelphia Tribune City Editorย Johann Calhoun, a 1998 graduate of the Southern University mass communications program, and others who graduated in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2016. One, Leah Bennett, is a former SU mass comm instructor.ย 

Faulkner talked about the importance of an ROTC experience at HBCUs with Army ROTC Cadets Johnell Johnson, Terrance Banks and Trinity Hayes and ROTC Midshipmen Micah Thomas, Caleb Wycoff and Aaliyah Ware for a segment on The Faulkner Focus, her morning television show. She talked with about 12 mass communications student media representatives at the Valdry Center for Philanthropy, just across from the street.ย  She talked with some football players. The Southern University Human Jukebox played for Faulkner and the Fox News team; they even marched in formation to spell a three-letter word that made Faulkner smile: F-O-X.

Faulkner was honored during a reception held Sunday night at the Leon R. Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center. Chancellor Pierre gave her the Chancellor's Award for Excellence and Lifetime Achievement, a new award. Faulkner was the first recipient. The Fox News team left Baton Rouge soon after her 10 a.m. television show was hosted from the Bluff.

"You have done so much for this university," Clayton told Faulkner on air. "Football players were calling last night saying, 'She's so real.' The nursing students ... thank you for what you've done for this university."

Clayton went on to say that he would love to see his university work with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to make Southern a federal joint readiness defense emergency center to train military personnel to be prepared for bad storms and whatever else might threaten our state and nation. It might be a partnership with LSU, he said. The center would work on crisis management and preparation and much more.

Clayton told me that he was pleased with the national exposure. He should be.

The Faulkner Focus gave Southern more than 10 minutes. That's far more national network attention than higher education institutions get on any given day. I'm not sure the university or the system could afford the cost of the expensive, per minute price.

Clayton is disappointed that a number of Black folks have attacked him and Pierre. "I've been attacked by Democrats.....They fight too much for culture war stuff."

Like Faulkner, Calhoun and I are journalists. We're human. We have feelings, ideas โ€” and opinions. I don't agree with much that Faulkner supports, though I surprise myself when I do with her. For instance, she's a big HBCU supporter.ย I've known Calhoun for quite a number of years. I've watched his journalism and leadership growth. I'm proud of his professional work and his NABJ national board leadership. I've agreed with him on lots of things.

We disagree on this one.

I understand not wanting a conservative visitor on Southern's campus, but I want students โ€” all students, including HBCU students โ€” to be exposed to different points of view.

I'm glad Faulkner visited Southern. Most students probably didn't hear anything controversial or political to cause them unease as Faulkner talked about HBCUs, the military and achieving success.

I'm thrilled that SU got so much exposure. The visit might result in federal support that no one thought might be possible.

If that happens, I doubt many will point to Faulkner's politics.