Are Shreveport Campuses Getting Short Changed By the State?

We have griped about this for years and nothing seems to get done. And we settle over and over again. It is time to start raising hell about this.

I am a very proud graduate of LSU Baton Rouge. I'm a Tiger through and through. I throw sausage balls at the TV when LSU is playing. Heck I even wear purple underwear on game day. But that's too much information.

And now we are learning about the economic impact these campuses have across Louisiana. LSU President Dr. William F. Tate IV is taking a tour of the state and he has outlined the numbers. He says overall, the LSU set a record $6.1 billion in economic impact on the state.

Here Are the Numbers from the Report:

• LSU of Alexandria had an estimated economic output of about $109 million, $32 million in earnings and 856 jobs.
• LSU-Eunice had an estimated economic output of $72 million, $20 million in earnings and 57 jobs.
• LSU-Shreveport campus supported an estimated economic output of $174 million, $52 million in earnings and 1,317 jobs.
• LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center located in Baton Rouge supported an estimated economic output of $137 million, $54 million in earnings and 865 jobs.
• LSU AgCenter in Baton Rouge supported an estimated economic output of $282 million, $119 million in earnings and 2,356 jobs.
• LSU Health New Orleans and the Health Care Services Division supported an estimated economic output of $1.6 billion, $643.5 million in earnings and 9,118 jobs.
• LSU Health Shreveport supported an estimated economic output of $1.03 billion as well as an estimated $412 million in earnings and 6,164 jobs.
• LSU Flagship’s Athletics Program operations supported an estimated economic output of $498 million, $260 million in earnings and 6,174 jobs.
• LSU's Flagship Campus in Baton Rouge alone supports an estimated economic output of more than $2.7 billion, including more than 24,000 jobs and $970 million in earnings.

The amount of state funding we get for the LSU campuses in Shreveport is abysmal.

During the last budget check, LSU Shreveport had to share $29 million with LSU Eunice and LSU Alexandria. LSU Baton Rouge got over $1 billion dollars.

Lawmakers from Shreveport and northwest Louisiana continue to fight for more funding for LSUS and the local med school.

Members of the local delegation say it is squeaky wheel time and area residents are urged to contact LSU President Dr. William F. Tate IV and other state leaders to change this funding deficiency.

Click here to send a message to Dr. Tate or write to him at:

LSU President William F. Tate IV
3810 W. Lakeshore Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

You can also click here to send a message to Governor Edwards.