Members of Student Government are envisioning a semester where they add lighting to East Boyd Drive, host Groovin’ on the Grounds and complete remaining campaign initiatives.
SG has been working with local government officials following an Oct. 13 hit-and-run to add sidewalks and more lighting along East Boyd Drive near nightlife venues like Shady’s Bar and Bogie’s Bar.
SG President Cody Wells said East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden has verbally committed to help with the project.
“Anything to make the area safer for the students is a good thing,” said Kathleen Bordelon, SG vice president.
Later in the semester, SG and Students on Target will host Groovin’ on the Grounds, an annual free concert. SG Director of Programming Khristen Jones said there will most likely be three bands performing on March 24, in addition to opening act Hazy Ray, the winner of Battle of the Bands.
Jones said she could not release the performers’ names until all contracts are signed and finalized.
SG’s spring elections will take place over a two-day voting period this semester instead of a traditional one-day voting period. Active campaigning techniques, such as handing out push cards and trinkets in Free Speech Plaza, will be confined to a one-week period.
Student Governent members are also hoping the Faculty Senate will pass a repeat policy approved by SG and modified by the Admissions, Standards and Honors Committee. Under the legislation, students would be able to repeat a class and attempt to earn a better grade to be calculated for their cumulative GPA.
SG will also coordinate an SEC-wide service project. Each school will volunteer with the same national organization in its own state. With the exception of University of Florida, all SEC schools “are on board,” said Aaron Caffarel, SG speaker.
SG has completed 11 of the 22 initiatives on the “Together LSU” ticket. Among those in progress are permitting wait-listing for multiple sections of the same class, establishing additional Scantron and blue book distribution locations in Middleton Library and the Patrick F. Taylor computer lab, eliminating printed football tickets, naming the football student section and protecting student interests amid budget cuts.
After meeting with University Registrar Robert Doolos, SG members are brainstorming and researching college registration programs. Members hope to establish new standards so students can join waiting lists for multiple sections of the same class.
SG is also hoping that printed football tickets will be eliminated by next season in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. Bordelon said group seating has been the major roadblock.
“Right now we’re brainstorming ideas on how we can do that,” she said. “The athletics department is 100 percent in favor of it.”
SG members also hope to name the football student section. Bordelon said they are constructing a list of potential names to be put to a student vote via the SG spring ballot.
SG is aiming to protect “student interests” from budget cuts by writing letters to state senators and representatives to thank them for their continued support of higher education.
Both Wells and Bordelon work at the state Capitol, where they represent the University.
“We just want to make sure that LSU … will remain a flagship university,” Bordelon said.
 
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Contact Danielle Kelley at [email protected]