The Faculty Senate discussed joining universities across the state in an attempt to fight budget cuts facing higher education during its Thursday meeting.Professor Steven Striffler of the University of New Orleans discussed the need for LSU to lead efforts to stop budget cuts. Striffler recomended University leaders hold a rally, which would include faculty and students from around Louisiana, at the State Capitol later this semester to fight for the cause of higher education.Striffler spoke as a guest to the Faculty Senate and said students, faculty and administration of the universities across Louisiana need to work together in an increased capacity to sustain higher education through the current budget challanges.Striffler said Gov. Bobby Jindal’s decision not to increase budget cuts in his most recent budget proposal was welcome news for universities across the state. But Striffler added the lack of new budget cuts was no reason for universities to become complacent because the state legislature can still ammend the recommendation.The Faculty Senate also discussed University policy in regard to excused absences for students. The proposed recommendation would add to the PS-22 amendment, which outlines protocol for excused absences, in an attempt to make policies regarding these absences clearer.Other items discussed included faculty authority over course transfer credit. The discussion focused on the possibility of students being able to transfer to the University from any other university in the state.”What’s at stake is faculty control of the curriculum,” said Kevin Cope, president of the Faculty Senate.Cope said the current proposals in the state legislature for “portable associate degrees” move in the direction of a statewide mandate for curriculum, and curriculum should belong to faculty.Cope also said the recommendations made by the Tucker Commission haven’t been satisfactory because they were unable to overcome political pressures.Cope added the Faculty Senate would look into establishing temporary parking passes for faculty visitors that would allow them to utilize parking spots closer to central campus than currently allowed by Easy Streets.____Contact Jacob Most at [email protected]