An African-American legislator says the state budget impasse should not force the closure of colleges and universities that serve black students.
Representative Andre Thapedi - a Chicago Democrat -- is proposing legislation that would help schools where at least three-fourths of the students are minorities.
Thapedi proposes spreading 25 million dollars of state money among the schools.
"'Cause nothing against the Univ. of Illinois or any of the other public universities, but the colleges and the one public university that I think will fall within that 75-percent minority threshold, they each have a unique set of circumstances in that they are enrolling members of the most vulnerable population in our state. And they need our support. And they need our support now."
That "one public university" is Chicago State, where more than 85 percent of the students are black. C-S-U says unless it receives state funding, come March it won't be able to make payroll.
None of Illinois' public universities or community colleges have gotten state money since July.
Governor Bruce Rauner has refused to negotiate on the budget until legislators adopt his pro-business, anti-union agenda.
