A ‘give-higher-education-money storm’ is brewing. And Illinois legislators should be wary.

Staff and faculty at Sangamon State University in Springfield and the Board of Regents need to get together to find an acceptable compromise for both parties.

In the meantime, state legislators need to take a close look at the SSU situation and consider what kind of repercussions could result.

SSU staff and faculty are threatening to strike because their salaries are too low and to change personnel policies.

The General Assembly allowed for a 2 percent increase in state university budgets to be used for faculty salaries which is what the Board is offering SSU faculty and staff.

The union representing SSU faculty and staff want a 9 to 11 percent increase.

Also a possible entree in the fray is the Illinois Student Association who backs the SSU faculty and staff.

Students are also getting worried their tuition and classes would be affected by a strike. An understandable fear.

So a faculty union, a state-wide student organization and students are on the way to join hands. This is something state legislators should ponder because the potential group will eventually be screaming at the General Assembly, not the Board of Regents.

And it might not be long before other state universities become club members in the battle against the state law makers.