Higher Education Day rally set for tomorrow in Montgomery | Events

On Thursday, March 1, 2012, the Higher Education Partnership, serving as the advocacy voice of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and other university supporters, will host the annual Higher Education Day Rally in Montgomery at the Alabama State House. The day’s events begin at 10:30 a.m. with Montgomery’s only advocacy parade. The parade will travel from Jackson Street down Washington to Union. The parade will be followed at 11:00 a.m. with Alabama’s largest annual legislative rally!  The event will feature students, faculty, alumni, university presidents, and other voices from Alabama’s public universities. The crowd of over 2000 attendees will carry a message to the state’s elected officials: “Universities are not just Valuable, they are Vital!”

The 2012 rally is an important event for advocates of public universities. “When economic times are tough, people focus on the fundamentals of success. Achieving at least a four-year degree pays dividends. According to the United States Census Bureau, a university educated person will receive, on average, twice the amount of income as a non-graduate,” stated Gordon Stone, Executive Director of the Higher Education Partnership.

Higher Education Day will feature the following speakers: Governor Robert Bentley, Lt. Governor Kay Ivey, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, legislative leaders, student leaders, university presidents and faculty. University bands will perform and a BBQ lunch will be hosted afterwards.

“In 2012, the legislature has the opportunity to send a message that encourages the 150,000 faculty, staff and students engaged in Alabama higher education. By providing the universities with ‘a fair share’ of the funding, the legislature can make sure that the potential for progress is not wasted,” stated Stone. 

Source:  Higher Education Partnership