Budget cuts coming
Louisiana higher education leaders have been advised to prepare for the possibility of $250 million in budget cuts next year.
That’s a lot of money. Made worse because higher ed in Louisiana is still recovering from the Jindal-era budget cuts — and preparing for the possibility of an enrollment cliff in a few years.
As I cover what this budget crisis might look like, I want to hear from you. What were the Jindal budget cuts like in your department? What are you hearing from university and departmental leadership about this cuts? Click the button below to send me a message or email me at phutchinson@lailluminator.com
Campus civil disobedience crackdown
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has enacted a law to exclude acts of civil disobedience from free speech protections on college campuses.
Senate Bill 294 by Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, was billed as a pro-free speech proposal. The bill was designed to “shore up protections” for campus speech, Hodges said
“What we need on college campuses is education, not activists,” Hodges said.
Students and faculty opposed the bill because they fear it will criminalize free speech.
The new law specifically excludes any act that carries a criminal penalty from free speech protections, meaning campus free speech policies would no longer protect acts of civil disobedience.
“Criminalizing free speech is not the answer,” Pablo Zavala, a Loyola University of New Orleans professor, said during a committee hearing on the bill in May. “Just because someone does not agree with what students are saying or what they are protesting does not give lawmakers authority to curb their rights.”
Civil disobedience was perhaps most famously used against segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. It has since been upheld by many, including conservatives, as an ideal form of nonviolent protest.
Louisiana’s new law also excludes any “activities in which an individual or group is knowingly being monetarily funded or organized by any individual, corporation, business, or organization that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization or foreign adversary by the United States Department of State” from free speech protections.
In presenting her bill during the legislative session, Hodges made several references to pro-Palestinian protests that have become commonplace on university campuses since the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas war.
What I’m reading
Louisiana likely to pay Loyola law school to handle death penalty cases By Julie O’Donoghue | Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana’s largest industries tired of waiting for renewable energy By Wesley Muller | Louisiana Illuminator
UT Austin lays off communications staff amid 'crises' following protests, DEI changes By Audrey McGlinchy | KUT News
More sales tax, less income tax? LA revenue secretary tees up tax debate with Legislature By Alyse Pfeil | The Advocate
Gov. Jeff Landry, in dispute with ethics board, signs law giving himself more control over it By Julie O’Donoghue | Louisiana Illuminator
Ten Commandments bill is just the latest battle over religion in Louisiana schools By Patrick Wall | The Advocate
Former head football coach Les Miles files lawsuit against LSU By Garland Gilles | WAFB
Non-tenured Tulane faculty unionize
A group of non-tenured faculty at Tulane University in New Orleans has voted to form a union.
The group is made up of faculty with the ranks of instructor, lecturer, professor of practice and visiting professor in Tulane’s schools of Professional Development, Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, and Architecture and Business. They voted 146-29 to authorize the Tulane Workers United.
The group had initially asked for voluntary recognition from the university administration in April, which it did not receive. The two parties agreed to hold an election, with the vote occurring Tuesday.
As an authorized union, the faculty members have an avenue to collectively bargain with university leaders over salary and benefits. The group has described their compensation as “poverty wages.”
Patrick Butler, a visiting assistant professor of English, said he earns an annual salary of $45,000. The average salary in New Orleans is $65,619, according to ZipRecruiter.
Butler said Brian Edwards, dean of the English department, rescinded a promotion offer to Butler that would have bumped his pay to around $60,000 a year because he was involved in the union organizing efforts. Butler has since filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board over the incident.
Other higher ed happenings
Southeastern Louisiana University has launched a new website that is designed to be more disability-friendly. Check it out here.
University classrooms in Louisiana will soon be required to display the Ten Commandments, unless a series of lawsuits are successful in blocking the newly-signed law. Read more here. (Have any thoughts about the Biblical text being displayed as you lecture? Shoot me a message or email me at phutchinson@lailluminator.com)
Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill seeking to expand public records access that originated in a fight over an LSU human resource investigation into a former Greek Life official accused of catfishing as a college student to entrap fraternity students. Read more here.