NEW ORLEANS—A student demonstration at the University of New Orleans (UNO) resulted in the arrests of two students after protesters attempted to storm the chancellor’s office and got into an altercation with authorities.
The Sept. 1 protest was a result of the school’s budget cuts, according to nola.com. As it stands, around $14.5 million in state money has been slashed from the university’s budget since January 2009. More cuts could result in the elimination of certain majors, such as English, management, marketing, mathematics, science and social studies.
As many as 150 to 200 students participated in the demonstration, reports WWLTV.com. Seven students barricaded themselves inside a campus building when the protest began earlier in the morning; however, the students exited the building around 8:40 a.m.
But the rally turned rowdy when students tried to go inside the chancellor’s office and police ordered the demonstrators to stop. Some refused, which resulted in a fight. UNO Police Chief Tom Harrington was hospitalized after injuring his ankle during the scuffle with protestors.
Chancellor Tim Ryan said he would be willing to speak with any student group as long as it was under peaceful circumstances.
