After a week of active campaigning, candidates for Student Government offices will soon learn their fate.
SG spring elections take place today and tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. Students can access the poll via PAWS or myLSU.
Election results will be announced at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex room E134.
If a presidential and vice presidential pair does not receive more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two tickets will enter a runoff, to be held April 2 and 3.
The four tickets filed to run almost a month ago and have been actively campaigning in Free Speech Plaza since last week. Campaigning this year has ranged from giving speeches and handing out pushcards to posting YouTube videos and distributing koozies.
 
Editor’s note: The Daily Reveille corresponded with all candidates via e-mail. Responses are listed in order by presidential candidate’s last name.
The Daily Reveille: What do you think of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s performance?
Bat Brunner, Renew LSU: Overall, Gov. Jindal is doing an excellent job, particularly in light of the economic recession. … However, I am deeply disturbed by the governor’s cuts here at LSU.
Carrie Hebert, Be Heard: Gov. Jindal has made progress toward protecting higher education. With that being said, Taylor and I do not think that the progress made is enough.
Landon Hester, Your LSU: In Gov. Jindal’s recent proposed budget, he has exempted higher education from further cuts, and as students, we need to watch and try to understand efforts in order to try and stop budget cuts [to] our University.
Joshua Hollins, R.E.A.L. Campaign: While Gov. Jindal’s popularity is evident in his landslide re-election, we feel that in the area that affects us most – higher education – his policies need improvement.
 
TDR: Do you support tuition increases during this budget crisis? Why or why not?
Brunner, Renew LSU: I do not agree with tuition increases because I believe that there are other forms of revenue available. There are too many students struggling to pay tuition now.
Hebert, Be Heard: We never want to see tuition rise to an unaffordable level, but it is important to protect our degree programs and our status as a flagship university.
Hester, Your LSU: If the University is going to raise tuition a single dollar, as president I will fight to ensure students’ hard-earned money will not go to waste.
Hollins, R.E.A.L. Campaign: We are not in favor of tuition increases during this budget crisis. … To ask the students to pay more tuition during such a rough period, we don’t feel is the appropriate solution.
 
TDR: Which way to fight budget cuts is most effective: working within the Capitol or activism on the steps?
Brunner, Renew LSU: Although activism on the steps may make students feel better, working with individual legislators … is much more effective.
Hebert, Be Heard: We always want to work with our legislators and Gov. Jindal for what is best for Louisiana and the LSU community, yet if students’ voices are being ignored, we must take those steps necessary in order for our voices to be heard.
Hester, Your LSU: One of these methods can’t be effective without the other.
Hollins, R.E.A.L. Campaign: We most definitely say working within the Capitol is the most effective.
 
TDR: How should the new provost and executive vice chancellor choose what gets cut?
Brunner, Renew LSU: While I would love to give input if asked, I believe the provost must ultimately make these decisions.
Hebert, Be Heard: We feel that the program consolidation should be used if at all possible to maintain the greatest number of programs for our students.
Hester, Your LSU: Before any cuts should be implemented, every money-saving system and idea should be explored – things as simple as saving money by watering the campus grass less often or saving money in electric bills through new and unique ideas.
Hollins, R.E.A.L. Campaign: We believe the new provost should do this in a balanced way. Some of our smaller degree programs add the diversity to our campus that makes us great, while some of our larger programs are what gives us our foundation.
 
TDR: What initiative of yours, if implemented, would affect students the most?
Brunner, Renew LSU: All of our initiatives would help students.
Hebert, Be Heard: The co-curricular transcript would be an official record of leadership accomplishments and involvement in student organizations, community service activities and professional/educational development programs. … Official copies of the co-curricular transcript could be used to supplement resumes and academic transcripts when applying to graduate/professional schools and for prospective employers.
Hester, Your LSU: The goal of ours that we believe will affect students the most is building a connected campus. … We want to connect all of these organizations and give them the opportunity to work together to put on and promote events.
Hollins, R.E.A.L. Campaign: Extending the Budget Crisis Taskforce will help protect the sanctity of our campus and affect students in the long run. However, our first [parking] ticket forgiveness and shuttles to the outer commuter lots will impact students on a daily basis.
 
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Contact Danielle Kelley at [email protected]