BATON ROUGE (AP) — Hundreds of Louisiana State University students and university supporters gathered at the state capitol to protest proposed budget cuts to higher education.
The Advocate’s Elizabeth Crisp reports people gathered to protest up to 80 percent cuts in university and college budgets slated for July 1. Higher education officials say the cuts would likely lead to layoffs and reduced offerings on campuses across the state.
Dressed in LSU purple and gold, students rallied outside the capitol Thursday in Baton Rouge waving signs and chanting. Inside, groups from all 13 schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System held a demonstration.
Lawmakers wrapped up their third week of the session Thursday without a clear plan for sparing higher education and health care from a $1.6 billion shortfall in the Louisiana budget.