Editor’s note: This story is the third in a four-part series on the Student Government campaigns. The candidates will be presented alphabetically by last name. Student Government presidential candidate Bryan Wooldridge and vice presidential candidate John Craig are running the only campaign this election unaffiliated with SG.They announced their candidacy in Free Speech Plaza Tuesday under the slogan “Two Kings for LSU.”Wooldridge said the slogan came from the Tenacious D song “City Hall.” The lyric, “Two kings — we’ll lead as Two kings” is appropriate for a presidential race, Wooldridge said. The independent candidates decided to run last year for the challenge and fun of it.”I actually picked Bryan to run with me,” Craig said. “Bryan knew with me as his right hand, he’d have much better chances of winning.”Wooldridge and Craig attended the University Lab School and have been around the University for years. “We’ve been on campus over 10 years combined,” Wooldridge said. “We know what’s going on. We’ve seen the problems.”Craig said they know a lot of people on campus and see the everyday challenges.”We have the Internet — we can search it for answers to problems,” Wooldridge said. “We facilitate Google for a lot of our daily lives.”For their pushcard, Wooldridge said the most important issue is to win the election.”If we get as many votes as we can, we can accomplish that right out the gate,” Wooldridge said. “Our second platform would be sporks in the Union to cut utensil price in half.”Craig said they’d also consider many issues on other campaigns’ pushcards, including opening easy streets for finals week. “A good idea is a good idea no matter where it comes from,” Craig said. “We’re not going to turn them down because of pride.”Looking back on this year’s administration, Craig said he’d like to improve Groovin’ on the Grounds and get better bands.”If you’re going to go through the thing of polling students, you should respect what the polls show,” Craig said.Wooldridge said this year’s SG administration lacked transparency. “I didn’t see what’s going on and what they’re doing,” Wooldridge said.One issue Craig said he would like to continue from this year’s administration is the freshman ticket lottery for football tickets.Concerning budget cuts, Craig said there is not a lot SG can do for students.”People are going to need to invest more at LSU, and unfortunately that means more tuition,” Craig said. “Obviously the deal was too good to last.”Craig said this year’s SG officials aren’t the public figures he and Wooldridge are looking for as leaders of the University.”We need someone who represents the student body, who is loud, outgoing and obnoxious,” Wooldridge said. “Look at a typical LSU fan, they’re typically out there. I’ll represent everyone.”Craig and Wooldridge said their goal is to enjoy their short time in college and not screw up if elected.”I think I’d do a good job at it, if not better than the other candidates,” Wooldridge said. —-Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected].
‘Two Kings’ on independent ticket
By Catherine Threlkeld
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
March 11, 2010