The Student Government Black Caucus and Black Student Union planned to spend Monday evening echoing their ancestors by marching to Middleton Library to vote in unison and encourage black students to participate in the Student Government election.
According to the March on Middleton Facebook group, 51 people were slated to attend, but only 13 people showed up to the event.
“It is obvious black student voting turnout is low, because of the 13 people in attendance tonight, six people were with the media,” said Roben West, political science senior and coordinator of March on Middleton.
The poor attendance wasn’t necessarily surprising for LSU, which has the least student voter turnout for SG elections in the SEC, said Ashley Hebert, 2011 University alumna and Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012.
In 2011’s SG election, 5,098 students voted, which accounted for 22 percent of the student body. That was an increase compared to the 2010 election, where 5,315 voted which was 19 percent of the student body.
The March on Middleton was meant to inform students about the importance of voting in the black community, especially the black LSU community, according to Hebert.
“I don’t want the lack of knowledge to be the reason why black students do not vote,” Hebert said.
Hebert and Anthony Nelson, incoming chairman of the East Baton Rouge chapter of Young Democrats, enlightened students on the history of black suffrage and the necessary steps to take in order to register to vote.
“Dogs were released on people and they were shot with fire hydrants,” Nelson said. “We as a generation have the responsibility to vote.”
But Hebert said the lack of black votes is representative of SG.
“When I was in Student Government, there were five black senators,” Hebert said. “I can’t blame students for not voting because they can’t see themselves in Student Government.”
Black student voter turnout at the University is obviously low, West said.
“It seems like they don’t care,” West said. “When you don’t vote, you aren’t using your voice.”
West said the only way to solve the issue is for all of the organizations to work together.
“Nothing can be accomplished in a solitary state,” West said.
Danielle Bickham, business sophomore, was disappointed by the event turnout.
“I wish people cared more,” Bickham said. “I wish people would understand the struggle it took for us to have the right to vote. My grandmother told me her stories, and in honor of her, that’s why I vote.”
 
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]