Chicago State University To Feel The Bern With Sanders Rally Thursday

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has announced a rally Thursday evening at Chicago State University, and the timing of his visit couldn't be more apt as the school struggles to stay open amid the state budget stalemate.

Sanders has campaigned on a plan to make four-year colleges in the U.S. tuition-free, and to substantially reduce student loan interest rates, by imposing a new tax on Wall Street.

His visit to Chicago State University comes at a time the school has warned it could be forced to shut down if the governor and state lawmakers don't reach a budget agreement soon. The state has been operating without a spending plan for nearly eight months, and public universities have gone without state funding for the entire fiscal year, prompting leaders from all nine public universities to warn higher education could be "damaged beyond repair" if something isn't done soon.

Chicago State University has announced plans to cancel spring break in March, and end the spring semester two weeks early, to avoid having to shut down before current seniors graduate.

The Sanders campaign has said he will host a rally at Chicago State University at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. He will also visit his alma mater, the University of Chicago, ahead of the rally at Chicago State. While at the U of C, Sanders will join the MSNBC College Tour to discuss his plan to make college tuition-free, among other topics.