Proud Students creates budget cut film, invites student input

Proud Students, a University group designed to promote awareness about the budget crisis, took a new approach to voicing student opinion by hosting "Proud Students' Short Video" event in the Quad and on the Parade Ground this week.

The group asked students to stop by its post to answer a single question: "What will you lose because of the budget cuts?"

Claiborne MacKnight, Proud Students co-founder and biological sciences senior, said students were able to express their feelings and opinions about budget cuts on a poster board to be featured in the two -to three-minute student-made video.

"Our plan is to distribute the video by Facebook or YouTube," MacKnight said.

Bradley Wood, co-founder and biological sciences and philosophy senior, said the video was another outlet for students to get involved.

Hollis Carter, women's and gender studies senior, participated in the event Monday.

Carter, whose sign read "budget cuts kill," said she believes the University is moving in the wrong direction.

"What LSU is doing affects not only my degree or my little brother's degree but anyone that comes to LSU [in the future]," Carter said. "It's stupid and ridiculous."

Wood said the video aims to capture this emotion and the  "essence of the students."

"This is a way to give people the opportunity to, in their own handwriting, express themselves about the cuts," Wood said Monday.

Though filming for the video ended Thursday, Wood said the group wants to reach out to a variety of students, including those outside the University.

"We want to touch students who are still apathetic," he said. "We want as many people as possible to know about [the cuts] and pay attention."

The group's next plan of action will be a rally at the Capitol on Nov. 10.

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Contact Sydni Dunn at sdunn@lsureveille.com