Dear Southernites and Friends:

 

On Monday, I received a text message from Home Chapter President, Cortny Jarrell, regarding proposed amendments to House Bill No. 1 pending before the House Appropriations Committee.  The amendments included a $1.75M proposed reduction to the Southern University System budget by the State Legislature.  I then reached out to Rodney Braxton with Southern Strategy Group, to inquire about whether this amendment might pass.  Southern Strategy Group has done a fantastic job lobbying on behalf of Southern.  Similarly, this morning I was notified that the House Education Committee will hear House Bill No. 34 Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m.  The bill abolishes the Board of Regents and the System Management Boards, and replace them with a single governing board. These bills are reminders that the Southern University System continues to remain under attack by external forces, and that it is critical that the University must continue to find more self-generated dollars to guard against state budget reductions and harmful structural changes to higher education.