12-04-2014, 03:11 PM
With the BOT being a self perpetuating board, there is only one entity that can have any impact on this situation and that is the state legislature. Only the legislature can initiate a constitutional amendment which can reorganize the BOT, change the university affiliation of its members, change the way BOT members are selected. and/or even provide the Birmingham and Huntsville campuses their own board.
The good news is that many in the Birmingham area delegation are already moving in that direction. Given the problems which the BOT has caused for UAH, the Huntsville delegation is very likely to go along. We have to make sure that the state senators and state representatives who represent us personally are also on board. Here is how you can identify your senator and your representative
Go the Alabama State legislature home page - http://www.legislature.state.al.us/
Look about half way down on the blue bar to your left for "Find Your Legislator” and enter your 9 number zip code. (The last four number extension to your zip code is necessary because there are often more than one district in a zip code. )
Hit your return key and you should then be provided the names of your state senator and state representative. Click on their names to get contact info and give each of them a call.
When I called I was actually shocked to find out how interested my Senator (Slade Blackwell) and my Representative (Danny Garrett) were, how generous they were with their time, and how willing they were to help. Slade was already pretty already on board and needed little convincing, but Danny is newly elected and knew very little about the situation. However, after we talked it over for an hour, earlier in the week Danny wrote a letter to Watts which he posted on his Facebook page. Now that the program has been axed, he is now exploring next steps with his legislative associates.
If you live in Alabama, please call your state senator and state representative now. Your best bet is to concentrate on the affect on UAB and the surrounding communities and the absolutely deplorable way Dr. Watts has handled this entire situation.
The good news is that many in the Birmingham area delegation are already moving in that direction. Given the problems which the BOT has caused for UAH, the Huntsville delegation is very likely to go along. We have to make sure that the state senators and state representatives who represent us personally are also on board. Here is how you can identify your senator and your representative
Go the Alabama State legislature home page - http://www.legislature.state.al.us/
Look about half way down on the blue bar to your left for "Find Your Legislator” and enter your 9 number zip code. (The last four number extension to your zip code is necessary because there are often more than one district in a zip code. )
Hit your return key and you should then be provided the names of your state senator and state representative. Click on their names to get contact info and give each of them a call.
When I called I was actually shocked to find out how interested my Senator (Slade Blackwell) and my Representative (Danny Garrett) were, how generous they were with their time, and how willing they were to help. Slade was already pretty already on board and needed little convincing, but Danny is newly elected and knew very little about the situation. However, after we talked it over for an hour, earlier in the week Danny wrote a letter to Watts which he posted on his Facebook page. Now that the program has been axed, he is now exploring next steps with his legislative associates.
If you live in Alabama, please call your state senator and state representative now. Your best bet is to concentrate on the affect on UAB and the surrounding communities and the absolutely deplorable way Dr. Watts has handled this entire situation.