Stuart Watkins and Martina Scheuermann feel they’ve done “More for LSU” as their tenure as Student Government president and vice president comes to a close.
Watkins and Scheuermann and the “More for LSU” campaign won the 2009 SG runoff election with 55.09 percent — beating out then-candidates Andy Palermo and Phoebe Hathorn.
The administration has completed 25 of the 33 initiatives on its initial pushcard since then.
“When you look at what past Student Government administrations have done and look at what we were dealt, especially with budget cuts, I think Student Government was extremely productive, and the executive branch did things that directly had an impact,” Watkins said.
Former SG President Colorado Robertson said he’s proud Watkins and Scheuermann continued many of his initatives — including Eye on the Tiger and SG Straight Talk.
Robertson said he was happy they continued the Class Gift Project in some form but said he wished it was still a voluntary program.
“They did a good job getting out the message for budget cuts and getting students out to the State Capitol,” Robertson said.
Watkins said participation in the Louisiana State Legislature is his proudest accomplishment. SG hosted “Fund our Future” with state legislators during the opening day of session.
“The decisions that are going to be made down there are going to have a direct impact on every student at LSU,” Watkins said. “We invited the entire student body, and we had a huge success.”
Providing extra lighting across campus was an important issue early in the administration’s tenure, but Watkins said budgetary restrictions made it an impossible goal.
Watkins said he couldn’t think of any other particular failures for his administration.
Scheuermann said they were able to provide services for the University and pay for things such as a new bike fleet at the Student Recreation Center despite budget cuts.
“We campaigned on the idea of small things that go a long way, and we definitely delivered that, whether it was the holiday shuttle or providing a safe ride to and back from the bars at night,” Watkins said.
President-elect J Hudson said he’s going to combine Robertson’s student priority and Watkins’s relationship with administrators during his administration.
Watkins said it’s too soon to spearhead major sustainability projects on campus, but “More for LSU” “started conversations that will lead to a future proactive approach on the way LSU goes green.”
“We really laid some of the groundwork,” Scheuermann said. “We really ignited a lot of conversations that will lead to future development of major programs that we thought were important.”
Watkins and Scheuermann agree much of their success was because of the diverse executive branch.
“They are individuals who pulled from across campus and came together and were extremely proactive in the roles they took,” Watkins said. “I cannot say enough about the people who have been a part of this team.”
Students and fellow SG members had mixed reviews of the administration’s accomplishments.
Lauren Weicks, chemistry junior, said the administration did a good job considering the University’s budgetary situation.
“They did some things they wanted,” Weicks said. “Maybe they could’ve focused a little about giving something back to the students.”
College of Arts and Sciences Sen. Drew Prestridge, who ran on the Palermo and Hathorn’s “Next Level” ticket, said Watkins and Scheuermann did well with budget cuts and attending state legislative sessions but said he’s seen “better and more productive administrations.”
Palermo said Scheuermann surpassed all his expectations but said Watkins could have been more involved all around.
“They promised to give the student body more, and I definitely don’t think they did that,” Palermo said. “I think they’ve given the student body much less.”
Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]