(AP) — Southern University’s new president says it might make sense to merge the University of New Orleans into the Southern University System.
Ronald Mason Jr. made the suggestion on Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.
But Mason told The Advocate later that racial issues likely would derail any such plans, and he hasn’t decided whether to make a formal proposal.
He said consolidating the two universities would strengthen urban public education in New Orleans in the face of big budget cuts.
Previous talks of merging UNO and Southern University at New Orleans have resulted in protests from SUNO alumni and students. But such discussions never involved putting UNO in the Southern University System. UNO is currently regulated by the LSU System.
 
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