Many Student Government senators hope to one day represent a larger body of constituents. Recently inducted Graduate School Senator Tony Guarisco has been there and done that.
The non-traditional graduate student wouldn’t reveal his age, but his salt-and-pepper hair is just one sign that he’s been around much longer than his SG colleagues. Guarisco received his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Nicholls State University, juris doctor at Loyola University — where he was president of the Student Bar Association — and attended UNO for his master’s before dropping out after completing 18 hours.
Guarisco has been pursuing in a master’s degree in liberal arts at LSU since 2007 and plans to graduate in May after completing his remaining three hours.
Guarisco says his recent days at the University are more fulfilling than his past education because now he’s learning simply for the sake of knowledge.
“I’m going to learn to live a better life … the life of an educated person,” he said. “It’s been a joy to be in a learning environment with [younger] people. It’s a symbiotic relationship.”
But Guarisco is no stranger to politics.
Guarisco first began representing Assumption and St. Mary parishes and parts of Terrebonne and St. Martin parishes in 1976. He held office for the next 12 years.
Before serving as a state senator, Guarisco was an elected delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention to help write the Bill of Rights that was ratified in 1974.
While in office, Guarisco wrote and passed the Endowment for Excellence, which gave the University millions to spend at will, and the Endowed Chairs for Eminent Scholars, which enhanced faculty salaries.
“It’s an enticement to attract faculty … and a better student body,” Guarisco said.
He also lobbied to require admission standards for public higher education institutions.
“None of the public colleges had admission requirements,” except for a high school diploma, he said. “I used to call it 13th and 14th grade. The young people weren’t prepared and the colleges were getting their money.”
The resolution never passed while he was in office, but the University has since installed competitive admission standards, Guarisco said.
Guarisco hopes to bring to the SG Senate floor a resolution to encourage the state senate to repeal a Louisiana statute passed during the Cold War that requires all state employees — including University faculty and student workers — to sign an oath to the state.
“You have to swear that you’re loyal to Louisiana, due to the communist statute,” he said.
Other SG members say Guarisco is an indicator of their diversity.
“I think it’s good to have diversity in the Senate,” said Emily Landry, E.J. Ourso College of Business senator. “Student Government is where every voice can be heard, not just the young voices.”
 
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Contact Danielle Kelley at [email protected]