BATON ROUGE – Student body presidents from Louisiana public colleges and universities passed a resolution urging state leaders to provide financial resources and greater support for higher education.
Representing more than 200,000 students currently enrolled at a Louisiana public post-secondary institution, the Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP) expressed their concerns about the future of higher education during its meeting this past weekend.
“As students we felt it was necessary to express our concerns on record about the critical position that Louisiana higher education is in,” said Patrick Harrington, Student Bar Association President at the Southern University Law Center and Board of Regents student member. “To us, this is a prime opportunity to provide a more viable long-term budget solution for higher education if it’s truly a priority. It is our hope that practical solutions for sustainable funding will be found.”
In addition to the resolution, COSBP is also holding a statewide student rally on the steps of the state capitol Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 12:00 p.m.
“Over the past seven years, students and families in Louisiana are feeling the pain of increased tuition and fees, along with decreased services and course offerings,” said Jesse Elliot, COSBP Chair. “We are paying more and receiving less in return. Partisan politics need to be put aside, and state leaders need to give equal consideration to all proposed solutions. The legislature must do something to help higher education. Our lives and futures are depending on it.”