Higher Education Partnership Volume 2 Issue 2 Feb/Mar 1998 In support of and working together with Alabama A & M Univ Alabama State Univ Univ of Alabama Univ of Ala at Bham Univ of Ala at Huntsville Auburn Univ Auburn Univ at Mtgy Jacksonville State Univ Univ.of Montevallo Univ of North Alabama Univ of South Alabama Troy State Univ Troy State Univ Dothan Troy State Univ Mtgy Univ of West Alabama  Inside this Issue A Long Way in a Year February/March Activities Call to Action Higher Education Partnership Restructures Board Surprise Guests	Partnership Update A Long Way in a Year
	Late In the summer of 1997, Governor Fob James said that it was inappropriate for students to take an active role in the political process. Participants at a meeting of the Business Council of Alabama were informed that the administration thought it was silly for students to get involved in campaigns. Based on the participation of politicians during the recent Higher Education Rally, what may have been described as silly, is now taken very seriously. On March 5, in the Archives Room of the Alabama Capitol, a group of over 500 students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered to celebrate the importance of Alabama’s 15 public four-year universities. As the pep-bands from Troy State University and Alabama State University trumpeted music throughout the building, the message was clear: “Now is the time for all stakeholders of Alabama’s universities to take a stand”. The theme of “Top Ten in Sports, Why not in Funding?” was repeated time and time again by the invited speakers. Cheers and applause were constant! Among the most impressive of the day’s events was the energetic support of students representing all 15 of the universities. From Dothan to Florence and Mobile to Jacksonville, students braved terrible weather to deliver “message bags” to their legislators. In addition, many of these same students were participating in their second or third event of the week. Rallies held on campuses around the state attracted the attention of local legislators, Secretary of State Jim Bennett, State Treasurer Lucy Baxley and Lt. Governor Don Siegelman. Accepting the challenge to prove it was not silly for students to get involved in politics, organized groups have been working on	campuses. Under the guidance of the Higher Education Partnership, student committees have been registering voters and holding campaign rallies on the campuses. As of March 5, over 2,000 students have been registered to vote in the upcoming elections. Plus, the number of registrations is expected to continue to grow because voter registration drives are still being planned for the spring.          Special tribute goes to the following students for their superb campus leader-ship: Erin Johnson, Jim Brummet and Mona Padgett at Troy State University; Matt Hancock and Erin Witter at the University of South Alabama; Malloy Ryan, Stephen Miles and Harlan Foster at The University of Alabama; Kellee Reed and Christina Wilson at the University of North Alabama; Chris Glover at Jacksonville State University; Mark Penaskovic and Melissa Carroll at The University of Montevallo; Joe Patton at Auburn University in Montgomery; Nicole Schiegg at Auburn University and Sam Collins at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Each of these campus leaders went the extra mile to make sure that the message of the importance of higher education funding was taken “Straight to the State House”. What is even more exciting than the success of Higher Education Day? The greatest excitement comes from the commitment of these campus leaders to keeping the message of “8% in ’98" on the forefront, getting students to write their legislative leaders and making sure that students are well informed voters. The Higher Education Partnership commends students for getting involved and is committed to making sure they stay involved.
	P. O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101-0761334-832-9911Fax 334-832-9995