More than 200 members of the Hornet Nation rallied in front of the Alabama State House in support of Alabama State University and in opposition to a major cut to the University’s state appropriations.
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When freshman James Maninang traveled from Colorado to attend Alabama State University, he never thought he would be rallying in front of the Alabama State House. But after hearing that the Alabama Legislature was going to cut $10.8 million from ASU’s budget, he knew it would impact him personally.
“A lot of my friends are going to end up leaving ASU because tuition is going to rise,” Maninang said. “This $10.8 million cut is uncalled for, and it happened right after we get a new president who is finally starting to make change.”
Maninang was just one of more than 200 ASU students, faculty, staff and alumni that braved the cold and rainy weather to lobby the Legislature to restore $10 million that was cut from the University’s state appropriations. Many held signs that read “Save MyASU” and sang along with music by ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band.
State Rep. John F. Knight Jr., several members of Alabama’s Legislative Black Caucus and ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to keep fighting.
“We didn’t get to where we are today by being complacent. We didn’t get to where we are today by being afraid; so, we don’t have a problem standing up for our rights,” said Knight, who also is executive vice president and chief operating officer at ASU. “The Republican theme has been ‘We dare defend our rights!’ My response to that is ‘We will defend our rights!’ We had to do it all of our lives, and we will continue to do so.”
Boyd energized the crowd before they lined up to go into the State House, where the House of Representatives and Senate were working on the education budget for next fiscal year.
“Our message is clear, and we will not be silent. We will not be quiet. We will not allow you to do this to us. We will not roll over and play dead,” Boyd exclaimed “We are here to raise our voices and let our presence be felt and known that Alabama State has stood for 147 years, and we will continue to stand for many more years to come Let’s let them know we have no fear, and we will fight for our institution.”
Inside the State House, the Hornet Nation swarmed the legislative offices, speaking to state representatives and senators about the 25 percent cut from ASU’s state appropriations.
“I am going to go and try to talk to some house and senate members to try to understand why they are doing this cut and try to persuade them to not vote for this cut,” Maninang said as he entered the State House. “I just want to express that cutting the money is going to hurt the students who need the money and who need the programs that the money is funding.”
ASU’s Student Government Association President Sharod Campbell helped the students lead the charge inside the State House. He said it was important to let the representatives and senators know how the students feel about the budget cut.
“I believe we have made a lot of progress today,” Campbell said. “I think today was very positive, and we are moving in the right direction to get the $10.8 million added back to ASU’s budget.”
