My freshman year of college, I didn’t know much about the University. I knew even less about Student Government, with the exception that they handed out Scantrons.
I won’t even get into the obnoxious event that was the spring 2013 Student Government elections.
This year, however, I’m all smiles when it comes to those who are working to improve my experience as a University student.
You heard it right, folks. Student Government seems to be making a comeback this year, with President John Woodard and Vice President Taylor Parks leading the way.
In the first four weeks of the semester, Woodard and Parks have already overseen many upgrades around campus.
Woodard’s first victory was the decision to continue the funding of a free Scantron program for students, which was reduced heavily in March by then SG President Taylor Cox. 
Cox cut the funding because University members abused the free Scantron program.
But those bright, young members of the Unite LSU ticket seem to have come in with their thinking caps on, as they were able to sort out the pesky budgeting more efficiently than those who reigned before them. 
In an amendment proposal to the SG programming, support and initiatives fund, they will reduce the red tape that often separates funds available to student organizations and those student organizations that should be benefiting from them. 
Another feature of the University that will soon be made more accessible is room reservations in Middleton Library. In the near future, walking up to student workers in the library only to find out there are no more rooms available will be a thing of the past. 
Parks says that the goal is “to develop a program that ideally will allow students to reserve rooms online similarly to how students reserve seats in the Himes testing center.”
She went on to say that this program will more than likely be funded, at least in part, by SG. 
I, for one, look forward to the day when I can reserve a study room without fear of rejection.
With all of this talk of budget cuts, many get worried about a possible increase in the student fees to cover this. 
Rest easy, students. SG has promised that raising the student fees in order to fund any of their initiatives is not an option.
There is also a project in the works to create a Career Services prep shop. This would allow students to rent business attire to wear to job interviews — cue the sigh of relief from those of you who only packed your Nike shorts and YOLO tanks. 
Other projects in the works include the SG Bus Trip to Mississippi on Oct. 5 for the LSU football game against Mississippi State, Bike Day on Oct. 31 and “Ole War Skule Week” to commemorate LSU’s military history in conjunction with the Texas A&M game.
We can all admit to ragging on our governing leaders for failing to provide what we see as necessary programs and resources for their people. When it comes to SG, most people write it off as just another popularity contest. 
But I’ve been hearing good things coming from SG members, that the focus during their leadership retreat was to make our governing body less of a clique and more beneficial to campus.
My hope is that Woodard is only gaining momentum from his accomplishments so far and that he will continue to work to make these words true:
“The LSU Student Government’s sole purpose is to serve the students at Louisiana State University.”