SIU faculty, staff, students, and supporters rallied on the school's Carbondale campus Wednesday, hoping to bring more awareness to the budget cuts Gov. Bruce Rauner is proposing.
A rally in front of the Morris Library brought out faculty, students, staff and community members to talk about how devastating the governor's proposal would be to the university and the region.
Hundreds of none-tenure track faculty are receiving notices that their jobs may not be filled next year. NTT Faculty Association President Jim Wall said the purpose of the rally was to get educators to put their skills to work on this issue.
SIU freshman Jessica Hayes is a dual degree student in forestry and photography. She came to Carbondale because of the hands-on opportunities. But, Hayes says if the governor's proposal becomes reality, and puts both of her areas of study in jeopardy, she'll have to leave.
Leaders of the rally urged everyone to contact their local lawmakers, as well as Governor Rauner, to protest the proposed 31% higher education cut.
LOCAL LEADERS VOICE SUPPORT
Local community leaders showed their support of SIU-Carbondale during Wednesday's rally on the campus.
Former Lt. Governor and SIU School of Law professor Sheila Simon says it's hard to know where the final budget cut figure will be since the negotiations going in Springfield right now can be complicated and down to the last minute.
Carbondale's newly elected Mayor Mike Henry says he supports rallies like this. In fact, Henry says he supports peaceful demonstrations when Governor Rauner comes to SIU-C to speak at commencement.
Governor Rauner is scheduled to speak at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony for students in the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services on May 16th.