Details remain uncertain for Wednesday afternoon event
More than 400 say they're attending Wednesday's 12:15 p.m. Statehouse rally. But how many will actually show at the rally? It's anyone's guess.
About 300 USC students said they were attending a rally for higher education funding last month. Fewer than 50 attended.
"I think there's apathy all over campus," said Taylor Cain, former student body vice president. "But I think everyone on campus saw this issue upset far more people than the fact [that] we've [had] millions of dollars [in budget cuts] over the past few years, so we don't really know."
Details of the rally were hazy Monday. According to a post on the rally's Facebook account, Tyler Ryan, a local radio show host and "the famed leprechaun from St. Pat's in Columbia" will be the emcee.
No other details were immediately clear. Organizers promised more answers Tuesday and urged supporters to bring signs and posters in Facebook posts.
And will the rally actually change the governor's mind? It seems highly unlikely.
A three-day barrage of criticism last week left her unmoved, and Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey told The Daily Gamecock last week she had no intentions of reversing her decision. Unless the governor changes her mind, the state legislature would have to create another spot on the board and elect Moore to it. Other trustees are elected by the legislature, and none are currently up for reelection.
But Martha Morris, one of the movement's chief organizers, said she still wants students to have their voices heard. Morris expects hundreds at the rally.
Her goal: 300 to 500 students.
"If we get the student base motivated enough and a message to all the members via Facebook, we can get people out there," Morris said. "It's right there at the Statehouse. It's relatively feasible. It's during lunchtime."
Lisa Miller, Moore's secretary, didn't return a phone call for comment late Monday.