Within the last couple of hours, hundreds gathered on Eastern Illinois University's campus, all hoping to send a message to state leaders about the importance of a budget for higher education. It's called "Fund EIU" and word of the rally spread through social media this week after Eastern announced it would have to lay off two hundred employees. The lay off's come amid a 7-month state budget impasse. But students, staff, and community members all agree that a budget can't come soon enough. Organizers of the event say they invited several legislators to the rally. State Senator Scott Bennett (from Champaign) spoke, saying EIU layoffs affect many of the people who live in his district. Meanwhile State Senator Dale Righter says he was banned from speaking. News Watch reached out to the event organizers about Righter; they say the senator was invited, but not asked to speak because his agenda didn't fit the program. Eastern President David Glassman told the Faculty-Senate this week approximately two hundred employees would soon receive 30-day layoff notices. He says those affected will be outside of the faculty. However, Glassman says some administrative and professional staff will also face furloughs. News Watch's Jesse Guinn has the full story.
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