EDITORIAL: Defining the new normal for higher education
Shreveport Times (excerpt)

Discussions about the possibility of merging neighboring University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans might seem distant and unrelated to northwest Louisiana. Think again.

Indeed, the potentially precedent-setting ramifications are of a magnitude that will help reshape higher education statewide. The debate down south is just "step one of a complete state review. They just happen to be first," new Louisiana Board of Regents Chairman Bob Levy, of Vienna, said during a sit-down Thursday with The Times Editorial Board.

And when our time comes, we — as our counterparts in New Orleans are learning — will have to be able to set aside our institutional pride and allegiances as well as past grievances and undertake some hard discussions if our public colleges and universities are to be relevant and operate efficiently.