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Reveille SG officials meet with state representatives about budget cuts, p. 3
The Daily
Volume 115, Issue 44
BUDGET CUTS
Dropped passes hinder LSU in loss to Auburn, p. 5
www.lsureveille.com
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010
Jindal responds to criticisms of higher education policies University admins give mixed responses Matthew Albright Staff Writer
University administrators are challenging some of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s criticisms of the state’s higher education officials. Last week, Jindal addressed critics of his higher education policies via Facebook posts, e-mail blasts and a website launch. “To Louisiana College Students: Our government is spending more than we can afford, and I believe our universities are delivering less value than you deserve,” Jindal said in a Facebook post last Tuesday. In a second Facebook post,
Jindal said Louisiana’s higher education system is underperforming. “As of this May our six-year graduation rate was only 38 percent — far behind the 53 percent graduation rate for other states in the southern region,” the post said. Chancellor Michael Martin says Jindal’s comments about higher education’s performance do not apply to the University. “If you look at the total cost of LSU and the value we provide, it’s hard to argue we don’t give our students their money’s worth,” he said. Martin said the University provides an education comparable to Ivy League institutions at a fraction of the price. However, Martin said Jindal “might have a point” about higher education’s overall efficiency. “I can’t speak for some of our
sister institutions,” he said. Martin said the University’s graduation rates, which hover around 60 percent, are better than the Louisiana average — if LSU were removed from the system, the state’s graduation rate would drop from 38 percent to 31 percent. “We are pulling the rest of the state up,” he said. Jindal’s posts have also downplayed the effects of recent budget cuts to the higher education system. A Web page posted last Wednesday on the Division of Administration’s website prominently features several questions about higher education funding, responding to many criticisms levied against the administration. The site says increased tuition JINDAL, see page 11
BILL HABER / The Associated Press
Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks at a news conference June 11, 2009, at the State Capitol. Jindal is using Facebook and other media to respond to higher education criticisms.
Bike theft continues to climb LSUPD: CRIME
Quad isn’t dangerous Sarah Eddington Staff Writer
ADAM VACCARELLA / The Daily Reveille
LSUPD continues to see a drastic increase in bike theft on campus this fall. The number of bikes stolen in October has more than doubled what it was at this time last year, with 19 reported cases as of Monday. Read more about this campus crime problem, including LSUPD’s take on the issue, on page 4.
Despite raised concerns after a student was violently attacked outside Middleton Library last week, the LSU Police Department said the Quad is not a particularly ‘Historically dangerous area speaking, of campus. the Quad “Historically speakis not an ing, the Quad area of is not an area of high crime,” high crime.’ said Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD Det. Kevin Scott spokesman. LSUPD spokesman Scott said the previous Student Government administration launched an initiative to use specified grant money for the University to purchase surveillance cameras for the Quad, but the cameras are not yet up and running. Matt Fuller, assistant director of building automation for Facility Services, said he first met with CAMERAS, see page 11