No Rivalry Here: Alabama and Auburn Presidents Work Together for Fair Funding

The University of Alabama and Auburn University may be the state’s most famous rivals on the football field, but the presidents of the two institutions say they stand together in their support for fair funding for education.

While the renowned athletic rivalry between Auburn and Alabama peaks at the Iron Bowl this Saturday, UA President Andrew Sorensen and AU Interim President William Walker are looking ahead to the 2002 session of the Alabama Legislature.

“Bill Walker and I share a strong commitment to fair funding for education in this state,” Sorensen said. “Alabamians deserve the best education possible from kindergarten to post-graduate studies. We can only achieve that goal with strong support from the governor and the legislature.”

“Whether you will be cheering for the Auburn Tigers or the Crimson Tide on Saturday, I think everyone will agree that increased education funding is critical to our state’s economy and to our future,” Walker said. “We are still struggling with the serious effects of proration in last year’s budget. Additional budget cuts would be disastrous for higher education.”

Sorensen said the two presidents support the efforts of the governor, the Alabama Legislature and the business community to find a solution to the threat of proration in the 2002 budget.

“We support the efforts of the state leadership to address loopholes in current tax law. We must find ways to address the shortfall in the Education Trust Fund,” Sorensen said.

Walker said the presidents encourage all Alabamians to join the effort to create tax fairness and establish a more stable base of funding for the Education Trust Fund.

Contact

University of Alabama: Cathy Andreen, 205/348-8322, candreen@ur.ua.edu

Auburn University: Bob Lowry, 334/844-9999, lowrygr@auburn.edu