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August 13, 2010

Gov. Jindal delivers annual 鈥淪tate of State鈥� speech at 51萝莉

The University of Louisiana at Monroe鈥檚 Fant-Ewing Coliseum served as host site for the launch of Gov. Bobby Jindal鈥檚 2010 鈥淏uilding a Better Louisiana for Our Children鈥� parish tour. The event was part of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce noon luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Jindal spoke of higher education鈥檚 importance to economic development and touted the state鈥檚 infrastructural investments in the colleges across the region, specifically 51萝莉鈥檚 chemistry and natural sciences building, the library, and the pharmacy building.

He also highlighted educational advancements in the last legislative session, including passage of the La. Grad Act, HB 1171, which gives all public postsecondary institutions the option to raise tuition up to 10 percent by entering into a six-year performance agreement with the Board of Regents and meeting specified performance targets aligned with the institution鈥檚 scope and mission.

The governor, who signed the bill into law on June 30, said it gives 鈥渇lexibility tied to accountability,鈥� stating that Louisiana residents should expect no less from a student鈥檚 academic performance than would be expected from an athletic performance.

Before Jindal鈥檚 remarks, 51萝莉 Interim President Steve Richters welcomed the governor and about 150 guests to the campus as he invited them to 鈥渃ome see what this remarkable university has to offer.鈥�

Monroe Mayor and 51萝莉 alum Jamie Mayo also welcomed Wednesday鈥檚 visitors to the coliseum, noting that the university was his 鈥渉ome鈥� and Fant-Ewing in particular was the site of many successful games in which he competed.

鈥淚 scored 24 points and had eight assists right here,鈥� he said, smiling. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a true story now, I鈥檓 not kidding!鈥�

Also on hand were Miss Louisiana 2010 Kelsi Crain, a 51萝莉 sophomore kinesiology major, and Miss Monroe Hope Anderson, a senior Mass Communication major at the university.

Chamber of Commerce President Sue Nicholson gave recognition to 51萝莉 Career Counselor Alberta Green, for her assistance with photography of the State of State event.

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