Student Government appointed six new economic advisers to analyze Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recently proposed budget.Jindal spared universities any further funding cuts in the budget proposal he released Feb. 12. The University has already taken $43 million in cuts during the last two years.The new advisers are economics graduate student Christian Raschke, mechanical engineering graduate student Wei Xu, management senior Hunter Thompson, economics junior Ahmed Mohamed, economics and political science senior Paige Nichols and international trade and finance junior Brian Dombeck.They are currently assisting SG Chief Economic Adviser Greg Upton in dividing Jindal’s budget into six parts. Each adviser will study a section, such as health care or TOPS, and will report his or her findings to Upton.The advisers will then create a proposal and present it in a seminar March 11, Upton said. Economics professor Naci Mocan will co-host the seminar, and he will talk about the state of higher education in Louisiana.The student advisers will lead the second part of the seminar and will present their proposal to the state legislature with detailed recommendations, Upton said. “We want to have an educated discussion, and this is the way to do that,” Upton said.Thompson is analyzing Jindal’s overall proposal to give an overview to the other advisers.”Everybody gets emotional with education and health care, and it’s our job to keep it as objective as possible,” Thompson said.Upton said the Louisiana constitution is large and bloated, and many sections are constitutionally protected.”We’re not going to ask for higher education to be constitutionally protected, but we’re asking for everything to be on the same playing field,” Upton said.Upton said some possibilities in the proposal are a fee raise, which will abate some of the effect of budget cuts on this University.”Another recommendation is what will happen to TOPS next year,” Upton said. “We think it should be merit-based. That view is very consistent with the chancellor.”Upton said the advisers are all qualified, dedicated students and have an average GPA of 3.8.The advisers have already had three official meetings, and the proposal will be complete in the next few weeks. Upton said in addition to the state legislature, the advisers will present the proposal to the Chancellor’s Office and SG Senate. _____Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]