The (LA Tech/LSUS) Merger Thread II

[Dawg06]

Important Links
Eva Klein study
House Bill 964
Senate Bill 527
LaTech vision and degrees to be added in Shreveport
Frequently asked questions
Advocacy messages for consideration
Consolidation of LaTech and LSUS: From good to great in higher education

"Support the Merger" email campaign

• The Louisiana Board of Regents supports this merger.
• The University of Louisiana System supports this merger.
• The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce supports this merger.
• The Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce supports this merger.
• The Bossier Chamber of Commerce supports this merger.
• The Ruston-Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce supports this merger.
• The Manufacturing Council supports this merger.
• Eva Klein and Associates supports this merger.
• Blueprint Louisiana supports this merger.
• The Shreveport/Bossier Imperative for Higher Education supports this merger.
• The Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) supports this merger.
• The Community Foundation of North Louisiana supports this merger.

Senators (North of Alexandria)

Name	Email	Phone	District	Position	Notes
Robert Adley	adleyr@legis.la.gov	225-342-2040 318-965-1755	Bossier, Webster, Bienville, Claiborne, Red River	Oppose
Barrow Peacock	peacockb@legis.la.gov	225-342-2040 318-741-7180	Shreveport-Bossier City	Oppose	Wants certain "assurances" and "safeguards" but won't specifically say what those are; his big boosters are affiliated with the LSU AgCenter, and they fear the demise of the non-flagship LSU System
Sherri Smith Buffington	smithbuffington@legis.la.gov	225-342-2040 318-687-4820	Caddo , DeSoto	Support	Letter in The Times
Greg Tarver	tarverg@legis.la.gov	225-342-2040 318-227-1499	Caddo	Oppose
Mike Walsworth	walsworthm@legis.la.gov	318-340-6453 (225) 342-2040	Claiborne, Union, Morehouse, West Carroll, Ouachita	Support	Co-author of merger bill; Member of Senate Education Committee
Neil Riser	risern@legis.la.gov	(225) 342-2040 (318) 649-0977	Ouachita, Richland, Caldwell, Franklin, La Salle, Catahoula, Concordia, West Feliciana, Avoyelles, Rapides	Support	Co-author of merger bill; Chairman of Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Committee
Bob Kostelka	kostelka@legis.la.gov	(225) 342-2040 (318) 362-3474	Lincoln, Jackson, Ouachita	Unknown
Gerald Long	long@legis.la.gov	225-342-2040 318-628-5799	Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant, Red River, Rapides	Support
Francis Thompson	thompsof@legis.la.gov	(225) 342-2040 (318) 878-9408	Ouachita, Richland, East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, Concordia	Unknown

Representatives

Name	Email	Phone	District	Position	Notes
James Morris	larep001@legis.la.gov	318-995-6852	Caddo, Bossier	Unknown
Roy Burrell	larep002@legis.la.gov	318-676-7137	Caddo, Bossier	Unknown
Barbara Norton	nortonb@legis.la.gov	318-632-5887	Caddo	Unknown
Patrick Williams	arep004@legis.la.gov	318-676-5990	Caddo	Unknown
Alan Seabaugh	seabaugha@legis.la.gov	318-676-7990	Caddo	Unknown
Thomas Carmody	carmodyt@legis.la.gov	318-862-9956	Caddo, Bossier	Support
Richard Burford	burfordr@legis.la.gov	318-925-9588	Caddo, DeSoto, Sabine	Unknown
Jeff Thompson	thompsonj@legis.la.gov	318-741-2850	Bossier	Support
Henry Burns	burnsh@legis.la.gov	318-949-2463	Bossier	Support
Gene Reynolds	reynoldsg@legis.la.gov	318-371-3092	Webster	Support
Patrick Jefferson	jeffersonpo@legis.la.gov	318-927-2519	Claiborne, Bienville, Lincoln	Support
Robert Shadoin	shadoinr@legis.la.gov	318-251-5039	Lincoln, Union	Support
Jim Fannin	larep013@legis.la.gov	318-259-6620	Jackson, Bienville, Winn, Ouachita	Support	Co-author of merger bill; Chairman of House Appropriations Committee
Terry Brown	browntr@legis.la.gov	855-261-6566	Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Red River, Winn	Unknown
Kenny Cox	coxk@legis.la.gov	855-844-8583	DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River	Unknown
Christopher Broadwater				Support
Simone Champagne				Support
Cameron Henry				Support
Paul Hollis				Support
Edward Price				Support
Nancy Landry				Support
Jerome Richard				Support
John Schroder				Support
Alfred Williams				Support
Stephen Carter				Oppose
Wesley Bishop				Oppose
John Bel Edwards				Oppose
Patricia Smith				Oppose

Non-Voting Leaders

Name	Title	Position	Notes
Bobby Jindal	Governor	Unknown
Cedric Glover	Mayor of Shreveport	Support	He's "all in" with the merger.
Lo Walker	Mayor of Bossier City	Support	Stated that the hardest thing about getting new businesses to come to Shreveport-Bossier is the lack of a research university; feels the merger would be an economic boom for the area.
Jerry Jones	Vice-chair of Louisiana Board of Commerce & Industry, former City Attorney for Shreveport, former Shreveport mayoral candidate	Support
Arlena Acree	Director of Film, Media, and Entertainment for Shreveport; Former Director of Economic Development for Shreveport; Former Chairman of Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; Owner/CEO/President of Career Adventures; Former Shreveport mayoral candidate	Support
Hazel Beard	Former Mayor of Shreveport	Support
Jim McCrery	Former US Congressman for Northwest Louisiana	Support
Eva Klein & Associates	Consultants	Support	National higher education experts; Presentation video
Phillip Rozeman	Chairman of the Shreveport Bossier Imperative for Higher Education; Vice-Chair of the Education Committee of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce	Support	KSLA editorial; Letter to The Times: College merger will take north La. from good to great; Taking north La. from good to great
Dick Bremer	President of Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce	Support	Wrote this letter to the legislators asking for their support
Hazel Dudley	President of Shreveport-Bossier African-American Chamber of Commerce	Support	Spoke at House Education committee meeting
Scott Terry	President of Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce	Support	The News-Star: Chamber likes LSUS/Tech merger
Vernon Chance	Executive Director of Committee of 100 Louisiana	Support
Paula Hickman	Executive Director of Community Foundation of North Louisiana	Support
Jimmy Maurin	Blueprint Louisiana Chairman	Support	The News-Star: "The proposed merger of these two campuses is consistent with our previous recommendation to re-organize institutions from a statewide and regional perspective. Several North Louisiana leaders and community groups took the initiative to study this idea, and many agree a merger will better serve students, the northern region and the state as a whole."
Barry Erwin	President of Council for a Better Louisiana	Support	The Times: CABL supports merger of LSUS and La. Tech
Rich DesCoteaux	Head of Manufacturing Managers Council for Northwest Louisiana	Support	The Times: Managers Council supports university merger legislation
Scott Hughes	Executive Director of Alliance for Education	Support	Spoke at House Education Committee meeting
Tem McElroy	President & CEO of McElroy Metal	Support
Phyllis Taylor	Founder of Taylor Foundation, Chairman & CEO of Taylor Energy Company	Support	Founded the TOPS program
James Collier	Former UL System President and Excecutive Director of the Taylor Foundation (TOPS)	Support	He supported the merger in 1994 and supports it again. This merger will save costs. The state can't afford to make LSUS a research university.
Craig Spohn	Executive Director of the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier	Support
Kyle McDonald	President/CEO of Argent Financial;Chair of the NW Louisiana Economic Development Foundation; Chair of the North Louisiana Medical Center	Support
Billy Montgomery	Former La. State Representative from Bossier City	Support
Jack Sharp	President of Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana	Support
Art Walker	President of Communications One	Support
Woody Schick	Chairman of Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; President and CEO of Citizens National Bank	Support	Q&A with The Times
Tommy Williams	President of Williams Financial Advisors; presided over numerous boards throughout Shreveport	Support
Drake Mills	President and CEO of Community Trust Bank	Support
Gard Wayt	President of Rotary Club of Shreveport; President of Gard Wayt & Associates	Support
India Carroll	CEP of the Green Clinic	Support
Grady Golden	Top Executive at Builder's Supply Co. of Shreveport	Support
Malcolm Murchison	Former Chairman of Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; Former Chairman of Shreveport-Bossier Tourist and Convention Bureau	Support
Jack T. Taylor	Executive Vice Chair of Operations at KPMG	Support
Linda Biernacki	President of Fire Tech Systems (Shreveport): LSUS Foundation Board of Directors	Support	The Times: Legislature should vote for Tech-LSUS merger
Paige Carlisle	Director of Finance for the Community Foundation of North Louisiana	Support
Jim Purcell	Commissioner of Higher Education	Support	BR Advocate: "merger would allow for the more rapid growth of offerings in the Shreveport area by giving Louisiana Tech a second campus and expanding the Tech programs onto the campus that is now LSU-S."; The Times: Destiny of city at stake with LSUS-Tech deal
Bob Levy	Board of Regents Chairman	Support	"Today’s action has the ability to impact the Shreveport-Bossier region in an incredibly positive manner especially since it was a home-grown solution brought forth by members of the education, business and civic community." Press release
Chris Gorman	Executive VP of Tango Transport	Support	"These communities are desperate to hook their wagon to a different pony. There is great consensus building for this kind of change and I appreciate the work that has been done in advance of today’s report and recommendations."
Randy Moffett	UL System President	Support
Dan Reneau	La Tech President	Support	Letter to Tech Family
	Flagship Coalition	No public opinion	The Louisiana Weekly: Willing to give up extension campuses in exchange for more freedom for the flagship in Baton Rouge; Believe merger is acceptable
Frank Pogue	Grambling St President	Support	The News-Star: "I support that initiative. I think what this region needs is to have the strongest institutions it can have. As I see it, it's going to be a very useful, very good merger." He said the merger would benefit students from GSU who also take courses at Louisiana Tech and vice versa. "The goal would be if you strengthen Tech, you strengthen higher education."
Ed Morrison	Purdue University	Support	Presented a study 18 years ago in which he suggested a merger of the campuses to increase economic development opportunities
Mike Woods	Former President of LSUS Alumni Board	Support	The Times/News-Star: He said he and members of his family are proud graduates of LSUS, but the writing is on the wall that LSUS cannot sustain itself on its current path for much longer. "It feels like Groundhog Day," he said. "We've been having the same discussion for two decades and haven't gotten anywhere. We can blame the Board of Regents. We can say its because we haven't gotten our change of role, scope and mission, but the reality is that things haven't changed at all." Woods said the urgency is placed on doing something to help LSUS now before it's too late. "If you look at next year's budget, LSUS is receiving yet another cut on top of the $8 million in cuts during the past three years," he said. "Folks, we're broke. He said he supports the merger because of the opportunities available to both universities. "A merger can help all of us," he said. "Dan Reneau gets more money per student at Tech than Vince Marsala does at LSUS. The merger allows us to get more money for the students at LSUS and resolves the role, scope and mission issue all at once."
Brian Bond	Vice President of the LSUS Foundation Board of Directors, LSUS Alumnus of the Year	Support	Spoke in support at House committee meeting
Bob Fitzgerald	Immediate Past President of the LSUS Foundation Board of Directors	Support
Bob Hamm	LSUS Foundation Board of Directors	Support	The Times: Time for bold action for our community
Wayne Hogue	LSUS Professor, LEAD Director	Support	The Times: NW La.'s economic future rests with merger
Joe Averett	LSUS Foundation Board of Directors	Support
Joe Callaway	LSUS Foundation Board of Directors	Support	The Times: Region underserved when it comes to higher education
Ray Branton		Support	The Times: Proposed merger complements region's identity
	The Shreveport Times Editorial Board	Support	The Shreveport Times: Tech-LSUS merger the right thing; Debate surrounding LSUS's future must not default to status quo; Don't let turf wars rule day in debate over future of LSUS
	The Monroe New-Star Editorial Board	Support	The Monroe News-Star: Tech, LSU-S merger wins
	The New Orleans Times-Picayune Editorial Board	Support	The Times Picayune: LSU-Shreveport and Louisiana Tech merger is sensible
	The Lake Charles American Press Editorial Board	Support	The Lake Charles American Press: Folding LSU-S under flag of La. Tech could be win for state
Bill Jenkins	Interim LSU System President	Oppose	Doesn't know how to pay for the LSU Shreveport Commitment Plan
John Lombardi	Former LSU System President	Oppose	Instructed LSUS and LSUHSCS to not cooperate with the study; Vowed to kill the bill; Countered with the Northwest Louisiana Initiative; Lombardi talks to The Times: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6; Announced new programs to be added at LSUS (mostly online); The Times: Lombardi's Last Words; The Times: Lombardi Fired 1, Lombardi Fired 2
Vince Marsala	LSUS Chancellor	Oppose	Letter to The Times; Wants to see a detailed merger plan; Suggests growing LSUS and moving Tech to the LSU System or a 3-way merger with LSUHSCS; Blames Board of Regents for LSUS's lack of growth, says LSU System is best for LSUS
Brian Wooten	LSUS Alumni Association President	Oppose	Letter to The Times; YouTube interview; Refused to let Dr. Rozeman LSUS Alumni of the year in to their meeting; Ran untrue ad in The Times; "I love LSU, and I'm a Tiger, bleed purple and gold, and would love to go there." "Being tagged in with the Baton Rouge flagship, a close relationship would help a lot because you guys are doing a lot of what we need, but we can't go to Baton Rouge, but we want to be part of that, you know."
David Gustavson	LSUS Dean of College of Business, Education, & Human Development	Oppose	Submitted editorials to The Shreveport Times and The Baton Rouge Advocate
Doug Robinson	LSUS Athletics Director	Oppose	The Times: Whither LSUS sports?

[Dawg06]

This is what the opposition is reduced to. Letter to the Town Talk:

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/2...LSU-Shreveport

It's either that or equating LSUS with LSU A&M and equating Tech with SELA and NWST like that ignorant LSUS professor.

Or the conspiracy theorists dubbing the merger requested by the Shreveport-Bossier business community a hostile "Tech takeover" that's been in the works for a while.

Or how bout the Hanna guy who implied that Reneau is a racist.

Or the LSUS students who claim that Tech will cut their degree programs and force them to drive to Ruston.

Of course the LSU System who threw together an 11th hour LSUS "commitment" plan that they don't know how they'll pay for.

The opposition gets more and more pathetic by the day.

[HUGETechfan]

It's either that or equating LSUS with LSU A&M and equating Tech with SELA and NWST like that ignorant LSUS professor.

Or the conspiracy theorists dubbing the merger requested by the Shreveport-Bossier business community a hostile "Tech takeover" that's been in the works for a while.

Or how bout the Hanna guy who implied that Reneau is a racist.

Or the LSUS students who claim that Tech will cut their degree programs and force them to drive to Ruston.

Of course the LSU System who threw together an 11th hour LSUS "commitment" plan that they don't know how they'll pay for.

The opposition gets more and more pathetic by the day.

This really is sad. Some of these comments are personal and desperate and kinda even piss me off a little. What a bunch of freakin whiners.

[Champ967]

Time to put the local legislators to task, either they show support for their constituents North Louisiana or they show support for a football team 200 miles away,

fixed

[dawg80]

Maybe you should consider not resorting to childish name calling, just sayin......

Maybe you should try reading the thread before you butt in. Look at post #365 and see who used the term "stupid" first. It wasn't me.

just saying.....

[OLDBLUE]

Dawg06, may I "copy" the roster in post 391 to my rep?? Specifically, the "columned" breakdown of groups and individuals including politicians.

Seems that presenting this excellent work to "by-standing" politicians such as my representative and/or senator, would illustrate only a handfull of politicians and those seeking to serve self (LSUS or system employees) are opposed.

[detltu]

http://www.payscale.com/best-college...n-colleges.asp

Louisiana Tech creates the highest paying jobs of all Louisiana universities, and LSUS and LSUA are nonexistent.

Mid-Career Median Salaries
$85,100 - Louisiana Tech
$83,700 - Tulane
$81,400 - LSU
$72,100 - New Orleans
$71,300 - La-Lafayette
$69,700 - McNeese St.
$69,400 - Xavier (La.)
$67,400 - Southern U.
$65,400 - Northwestern St.
$63,700 - Loyola (N.O.)
$58,200 - Nicholls St.
$57,800 - Southeastern La.
$55,800 - Grambling St.
n/a - La-Monroe*
n/a - LSU-Shreveport*
n/a - LSU-Alexandria*
n/a - SU-New Orleans*

*A few schools were excluded due to issues in identifying the school accurately, usually because of ambiguous names or recent name changes.

This makes me wonder if the reason LSUS and LSUA could not be identified accurately is because many of the graduates listed their school as LSU. SU -New Orleans was probably the same issue. I would assume that ULM was just because of the name change.

[touchdown123]

This makes me wonder if the reason LSUS and LSUA could not be identified accurately is because many of the graduates listed their school as LSU. SU -New Orleans was probably the same issue. I would assume that ULM was just because of the name change.

Probably. I'm told by med students in Shreveport that if you say you went to LSU in undergrad the question "Shreveport or baton rouge?" usually follows.

LSUS students either truly believe they attend LSU or think nobody knows the difference. IMO this should REALLY piss off LSU students.

[touchdown123]

Wouldn't it be great of all the LSUx schools, except LSUS, were transferred to the ULS and renamed UL whatever? Talk about an all time back fire for ULM and ULL. They change again. ULL would still try to claim Louisiana status, but there'd be more detractors.

[Bill Brasky]

Anyone that isn't satisfied with Barrow Peacock's BS, feel free to pass this along:

The Louisiana Tech-LSUS Merger is supported by:
-Louisiana Board of Regents
-University of Louisiana System
-Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
-Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce
-Bossier Chamber of Commerce
-Ruston-Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce
-Manufacturing Council
-Blueprint Louisiana
-Shreveport/Bossier Imperative for Higher Education
-Council for a Better Louisiana
-Community Foundation of North Louisiana
-The Editorial Boards of:
The Times (Shreveport)
The News-Star (Monroe)
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
American Press (Lake Charles)

And scores of business and civic leaders in North Louisiana.

Yet, the Republican State Senator elected to serve my district (37), Barrow Peacock, does not support the legislation. Mr. Peacock has been quoted as "wanting certain assurances and safeguards" but won't say what those assurances and safeguards are. He will command much more respect for communicating to his constituents the real reasons he is against the merger. Stop the political posturing and be part of the solution, not the problem, Mr. Peacock.

[qng001]

Anyone that isn't satisfied with Barrow Peacock's BS, feel free to pass this along:

The Louisiana Tech-LSUS Merger is supported by:
-Louisiana Board of Regents
-University of Louisiana System
-Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
-Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce
-Bossier Chamber of Commerce
-Ruston-Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce
-Manufacturing Council
-Blueprint Louisiana
-Shreveport/Bossier Imperative for Higher Education
-Council for a Better Louisiana
-Community Foundation of North Louisiana
-The Editorial Boards of:
The Times (Shreveport)
The News-Star (Monroe)
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
American Press (Lake Charles)

And scores of business and civic leaders in North Louisiana.

Yet, the Republican State Senator elected to serve my district (37), Barrow Peacock, does not support the legislation. Mr. Peacock has been quoted as "wanting certain assurances and safeguards" but won't say what those assurances and safeguards are. He will command much more respect for communicating to his constituents the real reasons he is against the merger. Stop the political posturing and be part of the solution, not the problem, Mr. Peacock.

With his political affiliation, I would expect he would be for this merger.

[boxerdog]

I emailed both Peacock and Adley--I never do that sort of stuff either... They need to be called out on this issue!

[Bill Brasky]

With his political affiliation, I would expect he would be for this merger.

Exactly. It doesn't make sense. Isn't there some kind of whip in the Republican party that is there to get people like Peacock and Adley with the program?

I think it is understood the merger is not about saving a bunch of money in the short term, but in the long run, I can't see how eliminating layers of management and duplication of services would not save taxpayer money. There are certain things not directly related to education and research that can be handled in Ruston.

[odysseus]

Peacock seems to be ignoring the values his own website claims he stands for.

http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Peacock/

"[The government] should create and fund an educational system that provides the necessary tools for a productive work force and productive lives"

[Dawg06]

This makes me wonder if the reason LSUS and LSUA could not be identified accurately is because many of the graduates listed their school as LSU. SU -New Orleans was probably the same issue. I would assume that ULM was just because of the name change.

Probably. But LSUA doesn't have alumni with bachelor's degrees in the middle of their careers yet.