As students from across Louisiana showed up at the Capitol on Wednesday to support higher education funding, turnout from the flagship campus was noticeably weaker than the rest.
Students were encouraged to wear their school colors, but when the rally kicked off, LSUAlexandria had a monopoly on purple and gold.
But all state university systems were represented, and the show of solidarity was not lost on some legislators.
Rep. Wesley Bishop, D–New Orleans, among other legislators, spoke to demonstrators on the steps of the Capitol before the start of the day’s legislative session.
“Students are here to make sure we get it right the first time,” Bishop said. “If we gut higher education there is no reason for anyone to come to Louisiana.”
Democratic representatives from Baton Rouge, Patricia Smith and Ted James, criticized Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed budget.
The University resides in Smith’s legislative District 67, but she said she felt a connection not just to LSU but all students in the state.
“We cannot fund higher education with a willy-nilly budget, and that is what the governor proposed,” Smith said. “I represent every student behind me because they are my future.
Smith said she wanted to return to the increased higher education funding the state claimed during the years of former governor Kathleen Blanco.
James echoed the signs of protesters by saying, “We don’t have a revenue problem in Louisiana. We have a priorities problem.”
And while students from all systems and walks of life lined the steps Wednesday, there message was the same — “No funds, no future.”
Demonstrators cheered when speakers proclaimed they would not vote for leaders who did not vote for higher education.
Representatives from each university system also spoke to the crowd. Brandon Crain, an LSUA student, represented the LSU System and Kenneth Barnes, an LSU Law student ,represented the law center.
Both Crain and Barnes are members of the Council of Student Body Presidents, the rally’s organizing group.
Barnes said during his time on the main campus, he was in jeopardy of graduating late because necessary classes were cut.
His former roommate dropped out of school because she could not graduate on time and ran out of funds, Barnes said.
“With it being such a personal issue to me, and seeing what I’m going to be leaving to the students who I represent now, who will be there after me, I have to be here,” Barnes said. “There’s nothing else I can do. If I am in this position and allow these cuts to go through without advocating on their behalf, then I am derelict of my duty.”
Barnes was happy with the students who showed up to the Capitol, but said no number would be enough to stress the importance of the issue.
“I don’t think we can ever have enough where I’ll be satisfied,” Barnes said. “If we had every student out here, I’d be like we need to get the admitted students out here, but I’m happy for the students that we do have and the dedication they have to be here.”
There is a long road ahead before the fate of higher education is decided. Legislators will meet 45 days during the 60 calendar-day session set to convene June 11.
“If we don’t take care of higher education,” Sen. Gerald Long, R–Winnfield, said, “We don’t need to go home until we do.