Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 3/29/96
      Contact:                           John R. Kemp  1

GOVERNOR FOSTER AND AREA SENATORS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION
     HAMMOND --"I hope we can be as successful in education as we have been in other
areas of our agenda," said Governor Mike Foster Thursday night at a special reception held in his
honor at Southeastern Louisiana University.
     The Governor told the large gathering of state senators and university supporters that he
is making a "serious effort to stabilize funding for higher education and to do something for
education that makes sense."
     Gov. Foster and area senators heard a direct appeal regarding Southeastern's immediate
needs from President Sally Clausen, Provost Ron Zaccari, nationally-renowned biology professor
Nick Norton and students Edwin Robinson and Sharon Hebert.
     The presentation pointed out that Southeastern is the lowest funded university in the state
based on a formula per full time student. There was also an strong appeal for funding and support
of a new multi-purpose classroom and laboratory facility.
     "The last building erected on this campus was the early 1970's when our student
population was less than seven thousand," President Clausen said, "Today we are bound by that
same infrastructure but it is now bursting at the seams because our student population has more
than doubled."
     In the spirit of "doing more with less," Dr. Zaccari pointed out that the university has
already downsized the number of degree programs by 48 percent, but the population has still
continued to grow. Students made a personal appeal not only for improved funding but for
continued access so that they can reach their full earning potential.
     Hosting the reception at the President's home was the University's Community Advisory
                                 (MORE)
GOVERNOR FOSTER -- Add One

Council. Also attending were State senators John Hainkel, Phil Short, Mike Branch, Tom 
Schedler, Ron Landry, and Randy Ewing. Each commended Southeastern for its successes and
pledged support for the university and the entire higher education community.
     Dr. Clausen expressed her appreciation for the large turn-out and the overwhelming
support voiced for Southeastern. The university's request for an additional classroom facility is
before the Legislature for their approval.
                                 -SLU-