UA to Host Youth Summit Feb. 7-8

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Some 120 high school student leaders from across Alabama will discuss issues facing the state and present their top 10 issues to Gov. Don Siegelman’s staff at the Alabama Youth Summit at The University of Alabama this Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7-8.

The program will begin with an evening session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and continue throughout the day on Friday. Siegelman will join the group on Thursday evening at the Blount Living and Learning Center as they discuss constitutional reform with UA journalism professor and constitution expert Bailey Thomson.

Friday’s program will begin at 9 a.m. in Ferguson Theatre with remarks from former Alabama Girls State Governor Katie Boyd, now a UA student and coordinator of this year’s Youth Summit, and former Alabama Boys State Governor Pettus Randall, currently a student at Princeton University.

Following committee meetings and a debate, the group will present their top 10 issues to a representative of Siegelman’s office at 3 p.m. in room 30, Alston Hall. For more information or a complete schedule, contact Boyd at 205/347-3846 or Dr. Kathleen Cramer, associate vice president for student affairs, at 205/348-6681.

Note to Editor: In conjunction with this event, the Alabama Student Association, an organization of SGA presidents from colleges and universities throughout the state, and representatives of the Youth Summit will hold a news conference on constitutional reform Friday at 2 p.m. in room 10, Alston Hall. For more information, contact UA SGA President Jon Macklem at 205/348-6127.