With the news of Harris Pastides stepping down as president of the University of South Carolina, there is a concern for those who are here on federal funding. For the past few years, President Pastides has vouched for funding to the TRiO program (Opportunity Scholars Program) because it gives first generation college students the opportunity to further their education that they would not otherwise have. The board of the university has tried to cease funding to this program in order to put that money towards other things, but Pastides has continuously fought for our place at USC. With a new university president, there is the possibility that funding to our program would be terminated, thus leaving hundreds of students without a way to pay for college. By signing this petition, it would give attention to this situation and how it would affect the students at USC.