Cell A65 fights for the liberation of all people, including students, which is why we are organizing with South Alabama students in calling for action against Jo Bonner, and Micheal Tidwell as presidential candidates for South. #NotMyPresident

The University of South Alabama is in the process of electing a new President of the University. Reportedly there were over 100 candidates in the selection pool and three men were chosen as finalists: Jo Bonner, Damon Andrews, and Micheal Tidwell. Out of these three candidates, only one (Damon Andrews) has the education, experience, and personal integrity that is needed to represent such a diverse faculty and student body. The issue is that the University of South Alabama has a history of ignoring and therefore supporting racist bigotry on campus from both their students and faculty. From nooses left in front of the NAACP office to continuing to pay faculty members who bore the symbols of the confederacy in our own hallways, these actions or lack thereof show tacit approval of racism within their own institution. Considering this, the student body cannot have faith that board trustees will make the best choice for the university. 

Jo Bonner, who is believed to be the front runner of this race, is a former U.S congressman who has no substantial academic background, outwardly voted against the LGTBQ+ community (multiple times), voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act,  and is known by the NAACP to outwardly oppose Affirmative Action. When asked about his voting history, his excuse was that he was toeing the party line. The student body does not believe Bonner will represent students over his own personal interests, considering his personal connections with the board of trustees. Micheal Tidwell, while he has a strong academic background, was clearly selected because of the university’s desire to provide a descriptive representation of black students even though he has substantively failed to represent his student bodies. His ongoing financial contributions to controversial members of the Republican party speaks for itself.

The failure of this university to provide more than one well-qualified, decent candidate who represents our student body is a reflection of this institution's reluctance to take action against racism, misogyny, and homophobia on and within this campus. The election of either Bonner or Tidwell would confirm what minority students on the campus have always believed to be true, that the University of South Alabama does not and will not advocate on behalf of their students of color, LGTBQ+ community, and their entire female student body. 

By signing this petition you are telling the University of South Alabama that you do not support the initial nomination or possible election of Jo Bonner or Micheal Tidwell and that you demand these candidates be removed from the selection entirely.  As students at this University, we deserve a say on how our campus will be run. We deserve a voice. We demand South Alabama include students in the decision for the next president beyond hosting a panel and filling out forms.