Reported by: Amanda Evans/ WCIA 3 News

CHAMPAIGN- The governor's message is music to the U of I's ears as it faces a major budget crisis. Pat Quinn made his first visit as governor to the university to talk about energy but another message left a bigger impact.
Governor Quinn puts education on the top of his list. Now with the budget address a month away the university is hoping for its piece of the pie.
"The good news is this governor is a great friend of education, he's a great friend of health care, he's a great friend of research and those are the things we do here at the University of Illinois," said President B. Joseph White.
Governor Pat Quinn gives leaders at the U of I new hope.
 "I think the core priorities of illinois are education, health care, public safety," said Quinn.
The university's been faced with the same financial crisis the state is in, a major deficit. But with a new guy in charge education could get a fair shake.
"I think that means that we can expect as good treatment as any institution could get in the face of very serious difficulties," said White.
 The university is prepared to make its case in Springfield and get the money it needs to keep a full staff on board and fix its crumbling buildings.
 "We will have a capitol bill in illinois, a construction bill we need to have that," said Quinn.
An idea that's getting big cheers. As Lincoln Hall, built 100 years ago is falling apart. But for now the governor's positive vibe is holding the university back together and has them hoping for the best. . "I hope there are no furloughs, I hope that we never have to do a reduction in force because as I've said frequently, our work has not gone away we have just as many students to educate," said White.
The governor will give his budget address is March 18th. Right now the university says it has no deadline as to when layoffs or furloughs could happen, it's a waiting game to see what the budget looks like for next year.