Chicago State students, faculty protest budget impasse

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago State University students and faculty members took to the streets to protest the Illinois budget standoff that is threatening to force the closing of the school.

During Monday's demonstration outside Chicago's Thompson Center, students demanded an end to what they called a "political game of chess" and free up funding Chicago State and other Illinois public universities rely on to operate.

Illinois' public colleges and universities have been without state funding since July, when Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed an unbalanced spending plan endorsed by the legislature.

Chicago State President Thomas Calhoun has declined to set a date when the 148-year-old university would run out of money to pay its employees. But university officials have indicated it could be as soon as March. The university has a largely low-income student body.