The Tolls Of Budget Cuts On Higher Education - KELLY CONNELLY, WWNO

After five years of steep budget cuts, some members of LSUnited, the faculty union, are hoping the legislature’s budget negotiations will raise enough revenue to prevent further cuts. Lawmakers are looking at plans to cut tax exemptions and get rid of one-time funds, which might provide more stability to the state’s universities. Michael Russo, a librarian and an instructor, said LSU’s finances are dismal. A half billion here, a half billion there," Russo said, "I don’t know what else they can cut." iling past students, Russo climbed the stairs to the second floor of the campus’ biggest library, to a classroom. "The ceiling looks like it’s been strafed with a machine gun," said Russo. "The tiles, several of them are dangling, just about to fall. It was during one of the classes that one of these tiles actually fell down and slammed onto the floor." http://wwno.org/post/tolls-budget-cuts-higher-education