2008 Woodie Awards
Students from state universities gather on the steps of the Alabama State House for Higher Ed Day
Jeff Poor
News Editor
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
MONTGOMERY - Students from the state's four-year institutions convened on the steps of the State House Thursday to rally in support of higher education funding in Alabama.
A group of students and professors represented the University of South Alabama. Also in attendance were USA President V. Gordon Moulton and lobbyist Happy Fulford.
Representatives from USA used the rally to point out a $8.7 million difference between the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's (ACHE) budget recommendation and the budget submitted by Gov. Bob Riley to the state legislature. Other differences in the ACHE recommendations and the governor's recommendation include $10 million to Auburn University at Montgomery to establish a school of government and $13.5 million to Troy University to compensate for its lower than average per-student funding, although USA claims it has an even lower per-student funding average than Troy.
"The governor's not a mean-spirited person," said Fulford. "I think Troy did a good job at making their case for more funding."
Fulford believes a House subcommittee will find middle ground between the two proposals.
Moulton, who serves as the chairman of the Council of Presidents of the state universities, spoke before the crowd of 2,000 students. But Moulton sees his role as the council's leader as an obstacle.
"Someone has to provide leadership," Moulton said. "That puts us at a bit of a disadvantage. You have to choose your words carefully." Moulton says they're working toward a budget resolution.
Also speaking before the 2,000 students Friday were Gordon Stone, executive director of the Higher Education Partnership, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, and Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma.
"For the last two years I have tried to get the Legislature to support a capital project not only for higher ed, but for K-12. Every time they've said 'Now's not the time, governor,' " said Riley during the rally. "We have $660 million in a rainy day fund. We've given pay raises. We have met all of these other requests that have been made, but the one thing that we need is to pass this bond issue. Get it done this year and put that $230 million where it belongs, where it will do the most good for economic development in Alabama and that's higher ed."
A group of students and professors represented the University of South Alabama. Also in attendance were USA President V. Gordon Moulton and lobbyist Happy Fulford.
Representatives from USA used the rally to point out a $8.7 million difference between the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's (ACHE) budget recommendation and the budget submitted by Gov. Bob Riley to the state legislature. Other differences in the ACHE recommendations and the governor's recommendation include $10 million to Auburn University at Montgomery to establish a school of government and $13.5 million to Troy University to compensate for its lower than average per-student funding, although USA claims it has an even lower per-student funding average than Troy.
"The governor's not a mean-spirited person," said Fulford. "I think Troy did a good job at making their case for more funding."
Fulford believes a House subcommittee will find middle ground between the two proposals.
Moulton, who serves as the chairman of the Council of Presidents of the state universities, spoke before the crowd of 2,000 students. But Moulton sees his role as the council's leader as an obstacle.
"Someone has to provide leadership," Moulton said. "That puts us at a bit of a disadvantage. You have to choose your words carefully." Moulton says they're working toward a budget resolution.
Also speaking before the 2,000 students Friday were Gordon Stone, executive director of the Higher Education Partnership, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, and Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma.
"For the last two years I have tried to get the Legislature to support a capital project not only for higher ed, but for K-12. Every time they've said 'Now's not the time, governor,' " said Riley during the rally. "We have $660 million in a rainy day fund. We've given pay raises. We have met all of these other requests that have been made, but the one thing that we need is to pass this bond issue. Get it done this year and put that $230 million where it belongs, where it will do the most good for economic development in Alabama and that's higher ed."
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