Dear Southernites:
Air Force One left the Baton Rouge Airport yesterday with President Barack Obama on it. President Obama held a Town Hall Meeting at McKinley High School, and the city was buzzing with excitement. The president's visit to Baton Rouge was simply the icing on the cake of a marvelous week. Before the Town Hall Meeting, President Obama met Louisiana's newly-minted governor, John Bel Edwards. Among other things, they discussed Governor Edwards' new Executive Order authorizing the acceptance of federal Medicaid funding and federal funding for our state's highway system.
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President Castille with Governor Edwards' Cabinet during Inauguration
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On Monday, I had the privilege of sitting on stage on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol during the Inauguration of Governor Edwards and other statewide elected officials. I sat on the front row with members of the Governor's new cabinet. Later that night, Marian and I also attended the Inaugural Ball. Both events were phenomenal. During his inaugural address, Governor Edwards continued to express his commitment to Higher Education. But, he also lamented the $1.9 billion budget shortfall that he and the Louisiana Legislature will have to tackle in the upcoming legislative sessions. Governor Edwards' shared his goal to increase the state's support for post-secondary institutions like Southern from 30% state funding to 50%. He explained that one of Louisiana's greatest natural resources is its people, and that the state needs to invest more in the education of its people. I want this governor to succeed, but I know it will not be easy. We all have our work cut for us to make our universities and this state stronger.|
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Home Chapter members at Alumni Night during Southern v. Grambling basketball game
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