Southern Faculty Vows To Keep Fighting Exigency

Southern University faculty leaders say they will continue to fight against declaring a financial emergency at the university if it is proposed again next week.

Faculty Senate President Sudhir Trivedi told his colleagues Thursday he would "vigorously oppose" such a declaration, called an exigency, if it is added to the Southern Board of Supervisors' Oct. 28 agenda.

Although the Southern Board rejected exigency in September, Chancellor James Llorens said earlier this month there is a good chance he would ask for it to be added to the meeting agenda.

He cited ongoing budget problems and issues with implementing voluntary faculty furloughs — time off without pay.

Declaring an exigency would allow the administration more leeway to lay off tenured faculty, mandate furloughs and ax academic programs.