Students at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago rallied today ahead of a week-long university shutdown.
Northeastern is requiring its employees take five unpaid days off next week during Spring Break. It’s another money-saving measure in a string of budget cuts the university has made during the nearly 2-year-long state budget impasse.
Students like senior Patricia Burchfield primarily blamed Governor Bruce Rauner, saying she shouldn’t have to be protesting.
"I would really like you to do your job, because I would like to get back to doing mine inside in the classroom and I have wasted enough time on your ego war."
A new state rule also requires Northeastern to kick about 300 students who work on campus out of their jobs - but they can be re-hired after the furloughs.