A proposed merger that has been discussed and tabled is now being revisited. Financial woes may be prompting consideration again of a merger between the University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans. The plan would combine New Orleans' two public, four-year universities into one institution. The conversation draws deep emotions, as SUNO is the city's only public historically black university. Public sentiment seems to be generally positivethis time around, with many recognizing the extreme financial pressures on the state higher education system.