ASU SGA writes up list of demands

ASU SGA writes up list of demands

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By John Shryock - bio | email
ASU SGA President Kyle Burney stands with a group of students who want answers from the Board of Trustees. ASU SGA President Kyle Burney stands with a group of students who want answers from the Board of Trustees.
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Spurred on by the belief that some on the Alabama State University Board of Trustees do not take them seriously, some ASU students joined Student Government Association President Kyle Burney Friday evening in issues a list of questions and demands.

Burney said his statement was being made on behalf of students in response to actions of the Board. The SGA president read from a prepared statement and did not take media questions.

In his statement, Burn asked for answers to three questions and made four demands of the Board.

The questions:

  1. Why was President Silver put on administrative leave?
  2. Why was the Warren Averett Wilson Price CPA firm selected as the auditing firm?
  3. Why was Dr. Harris chosen as the interim president?

The demands:

  1. A forensic audit be conducted by an out of state firm
  2. A portfolio of all University contracts be made available dating back to 2008
  3. A copy of the original minutes from every Board of Trustees meeting since August 2011
  4. Remove Dr. William Harris as interim president for the ultimate reinstatement of President Joseph Silver.

SGA President Burney said that if the demands were not met by Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 students are prepared to engage in further actions. Burney did not provide specifics on what further actions might include.

The statement was prefaced with Burney's remark that those enrolled at ASU are "students", or young adults. The statement appears to have been in response to statements by Chairman Elton Dean, made after Friday morning's meeting, in which he called students "children" multiple times.

Silver remains on paid adminstrative leave and the Board opted not to pursue immediate further action regarding his employment out of respect for the Silver family. Dr. Silver's mother died Thursday evening.

The board meeting did end with approval of two agenda items: The naming of an interim president and the decision to order an audit of the university's finances.

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