Everyone has a stake in the future of the University, or at least that’s the plan. The Alumni Association is teaming with up Student Government to bring together all members of “Tiger Nation” in an advocacy group to help stop the state’s potential $400 million budget cuts to higher education. 
The Alumni Association launched Tiger Advocates online on Feb. 3. 
Tiger Advocates aims to inform the LSU community of legislation threatening University funding and connect them to their state representatives, who will convene April 13 for the 2015 legislative session.
CEO and president of the LSU Alumni Association Cliff Vannoy said he hopes Tiger Advocates unifies the LSU community.
“In short, Tiger Advocates is a grassroots organization sponsored by the Alumni Association, and we’re informing the entire Tiger Nation — every graduate, every future alum, every faculty member, their families, anybody in Louisiana,” Vannoy said.
SG will bring student involvement to the group, while the Alumni Association will contact alumni.
The two will then work to get the families and friends of those connections involved too, Vannoy said.
Students who enter their information in the program will be linked to state legislators, said SG president Clay Tufts.
“They can start contacting them and let them know, ‘Hey I’m a student and I care about LSU. I want the best for my school,’” Tufts said.
Advocates can send an email to or call their legislators to let them know they are monitoring legislative decisions that could impact the University. 
LSU is not the only institution threatened by budget cuts, Vannoy said, and partnerships with other universities could be helpful.
“We’re also looking at partnering with other institutions to bring a strong message about the importance of well-funded outstanding institutions that provide a great service to Louisiana and its citizens,” Vannoy said.   
The Alumni Association led efforts to create a group advocating against budget cuts because of their connections to the University, Vannoy said.
“We’re supposed to be building a mutually beneficial relationship between our graduates and friends with the University,” Vannoy said. “If the University needs help, that’s who they call on — the Alumni Association.”
Budget cuts are unavoidable, Vannoy said, but the impact of the cuts could be decreased by an innovative solution.
Change is possible if enough advocates tell legislators they are behind these solutions, Vannoy said.
“I would think the key to this thing is com[ing] up with a creative solution,” Vannoy said. “Provide that as part of legislation and with that, help solve the issues. Rather than just say ‘No, don’t do that,’ let’s find a solution that works and then get behind that solution. And I think that’s imperative.”

Gallery • 4 Photos

Emily Brauner

LSU Student Body President, Clay Tufts (left) and Aumni Association President, Cliff Vannoy (right), launch a new campaign to get the LSU community involved in the current budget crisis on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at the Lod Cook Alumni Center.