BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana State University students are planning a march on the state capitol to protest the state's proposed $600 million cut to higher education.
Nola.com/Times-Picayune’s Jed Lipinski reports the cuts could result in the closure of LSU satellite campuses and a substantial loss of programs and faculty members at the school's main campus, according to an LSU news release.
In response, students are preparing to march Thursday.
The march is being sponsored by LSU Alumni Association's Tiger Advocates and organized by members of the Baton Rouge campus' student government.
Though the march is student-organized, the alumni association has encouraged all interested supporters of LSU to participate.
"It's time for the Louisiana legislature to protect our students — our future alumni — and find alternative solutions to the budget shortfall," said LSU Alumni Association President and CEO Cliff Vannoy.
"We're putting the faces of those students at the steps of the capitol to remind legislators their decisions impact the lives that are the future of Louisiana," Vannoy said.
Marchers are being asked to meet at the AZ Young Park at the Pentagon Barrack Barracks by 12:50 p.m.
At 1 p.m., the march is slated to proceed through the capitol gardens to the steps of the capitol.