In light of LSU System President John Lombardi’s news release yesterday, the 21-member chancellor search committee is once again stifling the full voice of the student body by including only two student members – chair-elect of the LSU Student Union Board Cherie Teamer and current Student Government President Cassie Alsfeld. Alsfeld cannot vote because of her position on the LSU Board of Supervisors. But the following SG president will be able to vote. As this Editorial Board has stated before, one student is not enough to speak for the more than 30,000 students at the University. This neglect is routine – otherwise, more would be done to stop this pattern of disproportionate representation. The voice of the student body is worth more than 4.8 percent of a search committee. This Board urges President Lombardi and the committee to include the collective voice of the student body on this matter. According to the news release, the committee consists of “a cross-section of faculty, students and staff as well as community representatives.” Three Louisiana attorneys have more influence on this crucial decision than the student population – or as we put it – the sole reason for a chancellor. In the advent of online voting in our elections, perhaps room should be made for an at-large position, voting only on behalf of a vote through PAWS for the next chancellor. This campus belongs to the students, and our voice must be heard.
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