Two Of New Orlean’s Colleges Possible Merger

Despite backlash from black lawmakers and some education officials, the governor's proposal to merge two New Orleans colleges COULD gain support among lawmakers. Despite opposition from the Legislative black caucus, Governor Jindal's proposal to merge two New Orleans colleges could gain traction among state lawmakers. Political analyst John Maginnis, with LAPolitics.com, says some favor the idea of merging

with UNO. The governor has asked the state Board of Regents to study the feasibility of merging UNO and SUNO. Black lawmakers reacted badly to the proposal; some saying Jindal seeks to kill New Orleans' only black public college. Maginnis says the motion COULD pass in the House, but the Senate may be a tougher prospect. LSU System President John Lombardi also rejects the notion of merging the two schools. Maginnis says the merger idea would restore dollars to the budget, but it also could open the door for lawmakers to seek more sweeping reforms of state colleges and universities.(UNO and SUNO have graduation rates of 22% and 5% respectively.)