Image is everything in politics.
Gov. Bobby Jindal has been flying around the country lately, trying to cultivate that image. And there’s nothing wrong with that — except when it comes at the expense of his constituents.
Jindal has been traveling to Missouri, Florida, New York, New Hampshire and Wisconsin in the past two weeks to raise funds and campaign for Republican candidates and himself — all while he seems to be ignoring his state’s higher education crisis.
Jindal has been traveling so much that our Student Government President J Hudson wrote a letter and sent it to newspapers in the states Jindal is visiting, asking him to return home and deal with the crises in his own state.
Hudson’s letter caught enough of Jindal’s attention to actually draw a response out of staff about higher education — something we haven’t seen for a long time (see our Jindal Count). But it was hardly a response at all.
Kyle Plotkin, Jindal’s press secretary, issued a response for Jindal to Hudson’s letter, saying his administration is regularly talking about the budget problems with higher education leaders.
As usual, the governor’s bland statement on higher education is vague at best — and it comes only because Hudson hurt his image in front of his rich Republican friends.
Deliverance for higher education rests mostly in state legislators’ hands, but part of it lies with Jindal — who’s done little to offer answers to students about the fate of Louisiana higher education.
All we want is for Jindal to answer our questions.
There’s no doubt Hudson’s efforts in sending the letter will bring much-needed attention to the dire straits of higher education in this state — if not Jindal’s attention, then that of national media outlets and political pundits.
But it’s only a starting point.
Students, be ready with your questions about the future of higher education just in case Jindal or his staff come knocking — not that they will. Know what you want from him, and maybe Hudson’s remarks will spark real initiative for Jindal to answer students’ questions.
Use this national attention to your advantage: Write down your queries and concerns.
Send them to local legislators. Send them to SG representatives. Send them to The Daily Reveille.
Speak up and let your voice be heard before you graduate — and before Jindal makes his escape to Washington.
 
 
 
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