ULM presents 'Starving the Beast'

Louisiana has suffered several cuts to higher education over the years,

but one film suggests the Bayou State isn't the only one feeling the burn.

It's called "Starving the Beast." The 90-minute documentary deals with how legislators have changed their view on higher education.

Assistant Professor of Political Science describes today's higher education as a business, rather than a service. He says ten years ago, it was common to see states financing the majority of a student's education, but now the roles are starting to switch, now putting all the financial pressures on students.

Stockley says more than 700 million dollars in cuts have been made to higher education since former Governor Bobby Jindal took office and the film "Starving the Beast" explores similar actions taken by legislators across the country.

"The analogy 'starving the beast' is how states have substantially withdrawn their support for higher education," says Stockley. "States are no longer funding higher education like they used to, and this has a number of effects."

The producer of "Starving the Beast" is married to a ULM alumnus and will answer questions after the film, being shown on Tuesday, September 20 in Biedenharn Recital Hall on ULM's campus. It starts at 6 p.m.