During the intensity and vulgarity of the LSU student section’s cheering Saturday, a small group of students took a break from screaming at Nick Saban to make a political statement. Their message: “Love Miles, hate budget cuts.”
Student Government handed out 80 chalkboard-style black and white signs Saturday in the student section. The signs played on the University’s advertising slogan and focused on the University’s quickly dwindling budget.
The signs featured the phrases “Live Purple, Need Gold” and “No Gold, No Flagship” and were made by members of the SG executive and legislative branches.
SG President J Hudson said the signs, which had instructions on the back of them to be held up after the third play of the third quarter, were passed out during the nationally televised game — though they did not make it onto the broadcast — to remind people outside the University community about the budget cut issue.
Hudson said it was important for people to note the day of the game was the same day the LSU System Board of Supervisors approved a $5.1 million cut for the University.
“The success from the event has not been seen today, but it will be seen in the near future,” Hudson said. “We had 80 posters floating around a bunch of students, and they held them up at the same time.”
SG Vice President Dani Borel said the signs’ message was carefully crafted not to hurt the University’s new student recruiting methods.
“We wanted a message that alluded to budget cuts without saying on television that our school is in crisis,” Borel said.
Borel also said the signs did not target Gov. Bobby Jindal because he met with SG officials this week.
“What we wanted to [say] was LSU needs money in general,” Borel said.
Borel said the idea to make the signs originated in an SG executive committee brainstorming session about how to bring attention to budget cut issues during a football game.
She said the chalkboard design was picked for its simplicity and relevance to education.
 
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Contact Frederick Holl at [email protected]