In response to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed $219 million budget cut to higher education, members from the student-led campaign “Save Our Schools” spoke out Monday against the governor’s decision. S.O.S. members spoke to students and local media outlets packed inside a conference room in the Student Union about the detrimental effects the budget cuts will have on the University. “We call on our governor and legislators to find alternatives to this budget crisis without sacrificing higher education,” said Whitney Breaux, speaker for S.O.S. and mass communication senior. “Our future and Louisiana’s future is dependent on a fully-funded, functional and adequate college education system.” Breaux said in the past the governor was a strong advocate for higher education and spoke about the importance of expanding higher education in Louisiana. “The heart, soul and essence of higher education is not in a bunch of bricks,” said Parker Wishik, speaker for S.O.S. and mass communication senior. “It’s the students and the educators.” Wishik compared the University and budget cuts to a person functioning without a limb. The group offered a few alternatives to Jindal but mainly left the challenge open for him to determine the correct route for cutting the University’s budget. “We’re not here today to say Governor Jindal do this or that,” said Kate Cazayoux, S.O.S. speaker and mass communication senior. “We’re here to say … do your job.”The community must not allow the University’s progress to be reversed by the budget cuts, Cazayoux said. An investment in higher education is an excellent economic stimulus, she said. The group suggested the governor could dip into the rainy day fund or encourage cutting wasteful spending at the University. S.O.S. members are willing to sit down and meet with any members of the Legislature to discuss alternatives, Breaux said. But the group of students feels other options are not being explored at the state level, she said.At the forum, Student Government President Colorado Robertson said SG supports students stepping up and challenging the cuts. S.O.S. has 121 members in its Facebook group, and the group created a blog for members to express ideas and solutions for the budget cuts. Wishik said the group has not yet spoken with the legislators, but the group’s Web site has a link for members to write letters to legislators. “We’ll continue until the situation is resolved,” Wishik said. “It’s not just an issue that will go away.” –Contact Joy Lukachick at [email protected]