Student Government Elections are less than a week away, and all eight presidential and vice presidential candidates participated in back-to-back debates Tuesday night.The Freshman Leadership Council debate was at 7 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom of the LSU Student Union, and the Greek debate was at 8:30 p.m. in the Sigma Chi fraternity house on campus.Brooksie Bonvillain and Chris Sellers represented the “Leading the Way” campaign. J Hudson and Dani Borel represented the “StudentsFIRST” campaign. Theo Williams and Millena Williams represented the “Geauxing the Distance” campaign, and Bryan Wooldridge and John Craig represented the “Two Kings of LSU” campaign.The candidates discussed questions from the audience and the moderator in both debates.TransparencyTheo Williams said SG needs more transparency, and students need to be more involved in decisions on what gets cut in each department. Bonvillain said a major concern is streamlining the current SG administrative positions.”I feel like some of the departments could be more concise, and that way students know exactly who to contact and that way we can be more transparent,” Bonvillain said.
Other branchesBorel and Hudson have worked collectively in all three branches of SG, and Hudson said that experience would help them if elected. “With those three experiences, we’re going to be able to combine all three branches,” Hudson said. “I think [a divide] could’ve been decreased if we had better communication.”Craig suggested having a “sweet-ass keg party” to bring the three SG branches together, and said to remain open-minded.Graduate WalkTheo Williams said having projects like the graduate walk is good, but now is the wrong time to add a $30 fee to students’ fee bill.”It’s a great idea, but the timing is wrong,” Theo Williams said. “I think it’s not fair to do it to the students right now.”Hudson agreed with Theo Williams, adding that the fee addition should have gone before a student vote.”I would just say: student input on every fee we have,” Hudson said.Bonvillain and Sellers support the graduate walk and the $30 fee.”The Class Gift Committee strived to take this to a vote of the students,” Bonvillain said. “It’s never an opportune time to add a fee to the fee bill, but I think it’s a great project to better our University.”Vice President’s roleMillena Williams said she sees herself playing a big role in SG if elected.”I’m really excited about the opportunity to get to work for Theo next year and to work with you guys,” Millena Williams said. “I’ve never committed to anything and not given my everything to it.”Borel commented on current SG Vice President Martina Scheuermann’s increasing role in SG.”It was really breathtaking the amount of time I saw Martina all over campus this year,” Borel said. “I would want to be as approachable as Martina is. I want to show my face.”Sellers and Bonvillain agreed experience is a key factor in their campaign.”I feel my years of experience in SG is going to help me,” Sellers said. “Together I feel Brooksie’s personality and my personality really complement one another.”Craig commented on the complimentary nature of his own ticket. “Our running together is no joke,” Craig said. “I’m a little prettier than he is and a little more outgoing.” —-Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected].