Good FB post from Wayne Hogue:
The Tech-LSUS merger initiative is not, and has never been, about LSU Baton Rouge: it’s 100% about Northwest Louisiana’s future best interests—and absolutely nothing else. LSUS is not LSU. LSUS competes with LSU for resources, students, programs, recognition, etc. (albeit on a miniscule and diminishing scale since both universities are managed by a board whose primary mandate is to promote LSU—which includes limiting competition).
The merger is especially not about LSU football. Most of us in NW LA love LSU football; LSU football is good for our state. And, academically, we want our state’s land-grant flagship university to be the best land-grant flagship on the planet. However, I don’t want my home, North Louisiana, to have to continue limiting our future potential simply to keep from competing with the Baton Rouge campus. I also believe anyone who calls NW LA “home” should agree.
We (NW LA) need, want, deserve, and demand a comprehensive university in Shreveport-Bossier City. Being one of the largest MSA’s in the nation without such a university has to end. Louisiana Tech is the kind of university we need, and everyone at Tech is willing, able, and thrilled to help bring that kind of university to Shreveport-Bossier City. We are already building it in fact, that’s my job, and I am more passionate about my job than I’ve ever been because I can see the phenomenal positive impact we’re going to have on NW LA—that fires me up!
A stronger/bigger Tech will actually help make LSU even stronger—competition elevates everyone’s game. Look at how many states that beat Louisiana on every measure have two very strong universities. On a program and personal level, Tech and LSU folks are very connected and communicate, and cooperate, on many things. While LSU football is good for Louisiana, LA Tech football (and all Tech athletics) is good for North Louisiana specifically. And, while Shreveport-Bossier has little except money that Baton Rouge wants or needs, we have lots of things Ruston wants and needs, so it’s immediately a symbiotic relationship. If Shreveport-Bossier City prospers, Ruston does as well (and so does every community in North Louisiana).
I’m happy that folks are now beginning to see the truth of the situation. I hope we can begin moving forward the right way, working together with nothing but NW LA’s future in mind.