SouthTrustCEOOffersMembershipChallenge

Higher Education Partnership Volume 3 Issue 1 Jan.-Mar.,1999 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 CEO SouthTrust Corp. Offers Membership Challenge Focus on STARS Prosperity in 2050 Call to Action: James reflects on why he lost to Siegelman	Partnership Update Focus on STARS
	The Higher Education Partnership, with the assistance of statewide STARS coordinator April McKenzie, has continued to work with Student Teams Advocating Realistic Solutions, STARS, organizations on the campuses. Here are some updates on actvities. Other campuses will be featured in the next update. AUBURN UNIVERSITY Ben Newbern, co-chair of Auburn University's STARS chapter, reports that the project received its charter at the final SGA meeting in June of last year. Because the SGA requires that organizations have a faculty advisor, President William Muse agreed to serve initially, though Ben notes they will now seek an advisor who will be able to work with them on a day-to-day basis. The leadership of Auburn's STARS group is made up of two co-chairs and a Board of Directors, which includes representatives from College Democrats, College Republicans, the SGA and at large members. The Fall term, Ben notes, was an organizational period for Auburn's STARS project. They are considering several ideas, including a Town Hall meeting.	AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT MONTGOMERY On the Auburn Univesity at Montgomery campus, the STARS organization is less formal. The leadership chose not to seek recognition by the AUM Student Government Association and did not elect officers. Joseph Patton, who serves as editor of the campus newspaper, reports that the bulk of the organization's work was for the campaign season. They participated in voter registration with AUM students and focused on student turnout at the polls. The organization has been associated with HEP since the Fall of 1997. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA April McKenzie, STARS coordinator on the University of Alabama campus, reports that 433 students have signed up to join the organization. They were very involved in the election process, registering approximately 2500 to vote. They also circulated a petition with almost 1,000 students signing an agreement to support candidates who supported higher education. On election day, STARS organized van runs to pick up students and take them to the polls. April noted that voter participation in Tuscaloosa County increased by 8,000 during this past election. Plans are underway for Higher Education Week to be held on the University of Alabama campus April 6-9; they also expect to participate in the Montgomery rally on April 8.
	P. O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101-0761334-832-9911Fax 334-832-9995