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By Ross Moore
Campus Editor
October 24, 2002

   It's the reoccurring education budget cuts that might cause students to become interested in constitutional
reform, said Joe Sumners, director of Economic Development Institute in Auburn.

   "We've been through proration cuts this past year in which we had K-12 fighting for a very small portion of the pie, which is shrinking," Sumners said. "The reason for that is that our constitution perpetuates a tax system that does not work."

   A constitutional reform rally will take place at Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. at the Eagle's Cage.

   The event is part of a statewide tour to promote constitutional reform and Amendment One before the upcoming election. The amendment, one of 33 that may be added, requires that any constitutional revision
must be approved by a statewide vote.

   The event is sponsored by the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform and co-sponsored by the College Democrats.

  The College Republicans pulled out of sponsoring the event because not all members support constitutional reform, Pete Smyczek, co-chairman of the organization.

   Speakers include Sumners, Distinguished Professor Wayne Flynt, Lee County Probate Judge Bill English, Rev. Johnny Green and others will speak at the constitutional reform rally.

  "This bus tour is a great way for us to talk to citizens at the grassroots level about why we need to reform the constitution and about getting involved in the upcoming election," said ACCR chairman Thomas E. Corts.

   The tour began on Oct. 16 in the Black Belt community of Marion and will culminate with a rally at the Capitol on Nov. 4. Flynt spoke at a rally in Marion, claiming the constitution stripped blacks and poor whites of their voting rights, established an unfair tax system and concentrated power in Montgomery, rather than local communities.

  The 1901 constitution has been amended 713 times, according to Kathryn Bowden, executive director for ACCR.

   The ACCR's yellow school bus, Reform One, will serve as a "rolling petition" for the public to sign in support of constitutional reform, said David Perry, a field director at ACCR.

   The bus is decorated with drawings and slogans designed by Alabama high school students, and is loaded with T-shirts, books, stickers, signs and other informative items on constitutional reform and Amendment One.

   The rally is free to the public.

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