Click Here for video interview with Proud Students co-founders
 
University students are finding their callings to fight against budget cuts in the new grassroots organization Proud Students.
 
Proud Students co-founder Bradley Wood said the name originated last semester when he was writing commentary about biology professor Dominique Homberger’s removal from teaching because of students’ abnormally low grades.
 
Wood, biology and philosophy senior, said what started out as a sarcastic phrase to express disapproval for the University’s decision turned into actual pride for his education.
 
Wood and his girlfriend, biology senior Claiborne MacKnight, started the group when the contracts for the “foreign language 14” were not renewed. Wood and several other students went on a study abroad trip with German instructor Angelika Roy, one of the foreign language 14.
 
“When she was fired, it really hit me personally,” Wood said. “That’s when we really decided to do something more.”
 
Women’s and gender studies senior Hollis Carter went on the trip to Germany with Roy, and she said the professors have a big influence in her decisions after graduation.
 
Carter said her younger brother will not have the same opportunities she had because teachers are getting fired.
 
Proud Students’ first event was a “jazz funeral” march around the Parade Ground last Thursday. More than 300 faculty and students attended, and it garnered statewide and nationwide attention.
 
“Our intention was to basically garner attention to budget cuts,” Wood said. “We considered it a success because it got national attention.”
 
Proud Students is having an organizational meeting Friday at 4 p.m. at Coffee Call to delegate responsibilities. Wood said the task is getting too big for two full-time students to handle.
 
Proud Students will have a protest Nov. 10 at the State Capitol, and the group will continue its letter-writing campaign to local newspapers and state legislators.
 
MacKnight said the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, University of New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University will participate in the protest.
 
Wood said he looks forward to working with faculty organizations like the new faculty union LSUnited and Student Government on their protest efforts.
 
SG President J Hudson said he met with MacKnight and Wood. Hudson and SG Vice President Dani Borel have also been working on a letter-writing campaign that combines letters, e-mails, a blog and other opportunities with which students can get involved.
 
“Dani and I have been working on this campaign, and I think it’s going to be a success when it’s unleashed at the end of October,” Hudson said.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]