Rally to push for budget planned at Eastern Illinois

CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) - Faculty and others plan to rally at Eastern Illinois University as the school prepares to lay off about 200 employees as part of a plan to get through the state's budget stalemate.

President David Glassman told the Faculty Senate this week that 30-day notices will be sent to laid-off employees soon. Those affected will be outside the faculty. Administrative and professional staff will also face furloughs.

Eastern Illinois graduate and Charleston resident Kate Klipp is planning the rally on campus Friday to push for a state budget. She says the response has been strong from faculty and others.

Eastern Illinois and other public universities in the state haven't received state funding since last summer because of the budget impasse between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.