BR councilwoman raises awareness to ban sagging pants, p. 4
Reveille Mellow Mushroom to hold first outdoor concert Friday, p. 11
The Daily
Volume 115, Issue 18
www.lsureveille.com
Wide receivers struggle to get catches, p. 7 Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010
University prepares for $62 million budget reduction About 50 degree programs to be lost Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer
The University on Wednesday released budget cut projections for a $62 million reduction in state funding, which would potentially result in the loss of 350 faculty, 350 staff positions, closure of buildings and the elimination of seven of the University’s
14 colleges. The cuts are not definite, and the projections are an exercise mandated by the Board of Regents to prepare for future budget cuts. The latest projections elaborate on scenarios prepared this summer by the University, which initially prepared for a $46 million budget cut. The summer plans outlined a three-level system dividing every University entity into three categories based on relevance to teaching and the academic core of the University.
Level Three consists of the academic core, and the initial projection removed $20,065,049. The latest projections cut $36,369,019 from the academic core. Level Two consists of units that support the core — like student support activities and library services — and cuts in that level total $16,634,845. Level One consists of units not directly related to the academic core — like Facility Services and Student Support Services — and cuts to this tier total $9,162,282. If the scenario becomes
reality, then 154,299 undergraduate credit hours and 31,506 graduate credit hours will be eliminated. Chancellor Michael Martin said he doesn’t know the likelihood of the cuts materializing because the projections were created at request of the state. “If it actually came to pass, it would be catastrophic,” Martin said. “The very conversations we’re having will do some harm because the conversation causes people to look for other jobs REDUCTION, see page 19
Cash in the Attic
Hill Memorial Library houses book worth millions Ryan Buxton
T
Deputy News and Entertainment Editor
he University is home to many famous treasures like its stately oaks and Mike the Tiger, but a less conspicuous asset rests in the archives of Hill Memorial Library — a copy of the world’s most expensive book. The tome, “Birds of America” by naturalist and painter John James Audubon, is a 2-by-3foot book of 435 hand-colored illustrations of various bird species, and Hill Memorial houses one of only 119 copies in the world. The book is astronomically valuable, and it’s gaining worldwide buzz as auction house Sotheby’s prepares to sell a copy in December that’s expected to fetch between $6 million and $9 million. Another copy of the book sold for $8.8 million in 2000 — the most expensive book sale in history, according to the BBC. Though the University’s copy of “Birds of America” has never been appraised, it is monetarily the “most valuable individual thing” in the library, said Elaine Smyth, head of special collections. The copy being auctioned in December is one of the few privately owned volumes of the book. Most copies are owned by various
‘‘
BOOK, see page 19
‘When they see [the book] in person, people are so enthralled by the art, they don’t think about the fact that it’s worth $8 million.’
SARAH HUNT / The Daily Reveille
Elaine Smyth, head of special collections, displays painter John James Audubon’s book “Birds of America” on Monday at Hill Memorial Library. The book is one of only 119 copies in the world and worth millions.
Elaine Smyth
LSU Libraries head of special collections
Losses from potential budget cuts •154,299 undergraduate hours cut •31,506 graduate hours cut •350 faculty lost •350 staff lost •7 of 14 colleges will be eliminated Source: lsu.edu/FY12BudgetCrisis
BUDGET CUTS
System considers combining programs Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer
Administrators, legislators, faculty and students are all seeking answers for how to deal with past and future budget cuts. Plans and ideas have been considered or implemented like cutting programs, increasing tuition and finding more donors. One idea has been around for years — the concept of combining the University, LSU AgCenter, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Paul M. Hebert Law Center under one administration. The conglomeration of the four LSU System entities is one of many ideas to save money by cutting back administrators. By putting the units under one chancellor and one basic administration, several administrators could be eliminated. AgCenter Chancellor William Richardson said a conversation about the idea has come up once or twice a month since the center split from the University in 1972. He said the AgCenter wants to maintain alignment with the System, but the agricultural community would be “adamantly opposed” to the idea. “[LSU System President CONGLOMERATION, see page 6