Louisiana is no exception to the budget shopping that accompanies the slowing economy.Retailers are offering discounts to keep their doors open.One Louisiana institution has consistently offered its products at a significantly discounted rate for nearly 150 years.The state offers its residents a quality education for roughly 40 percent of the cost in the form of tuition. The remaining 60 percent of the operating budget is made up primarily of state funds contributed by Louisiana taxes, according to statistics from the University’s Office of Budget and Planning web site.Recently, Gov. Bobby Jindal warned of significant budget cuts.The time has come for the leadership of this state to consider the wisdom of allowing higher education to remain unprotected by the state Constitution. Any time cuts must be made to the state budget, higher education is one of the first to suffer the effects because of its constitutional vulnerability.This nation was founded on a radical premise — education is a public good. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 gives evidence of this commitment to education — “Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”The problem with protecting higher education through a constitutional change is the people of Louisiana must approve the change.”We haven’t made ourselves relevant,” said William Silvia Jr., former executive vice president of the LSU System. “Education is a long-term investment.”The fact that colleges and universities remain unprotected from budget cuts is evidence that higher education is valued less than other goods and services paid for by the state. If this is to change, it is up to the students and alumni of the University and other state institutions to foster this change.The University depends on the state for its funding. The benefits provided to the state by the University must be highlighted.An educated populace offers the best opportunity for the state to move forward.A college graduate earned $383 more per week in 2007 than a high school graduate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the unemployment rate for high school graduates was 4.4 percent in 2007 while it was only 2.2 percent for college graduates.As the economy has tended to expand in the direction of high tech jobs, education has become increasingly necessary for success. This necessity will continue to increase as the economy recovers from its current turmoil.The University depends on the state for the majority of its funding. State funding allows the University to offer a top-notch education at an affordable price. With TOPS and other forms of financial aid, the cost to the student can be reduced to next to nothing.If the University community expects the state to recognize its value, it should recognize the   tremendous accomplishments the state has already made on their behalf.Before politicians are attacked for being irresponsible with tax revenues and higher education spending, they should first be applauded for the work accomplished in providing for the students of this state.Cuts in funding on the scale of what has been proposed by the Jindal administration could significantly impact the future of the University — and Louisiana — and should be avoided if at all possible. The value of an institution like LSU can’t be underestimated. It is up to the University community to show why.–Contact Drew Walker at [email protected]