Student Government representatives are planning an on-campus forum featuring leading state officials for next semester.
SG Vice President Dani Borel said the ideal lineup would include Gov. Bobby Jindal, Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, President of the Senate Joel Chaisson, State Treasurer John Kennedy and newly elected Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne.
Borel said the forum is planned for early February, when the state’s budget process begins in earnest.
Borel said students would submit questions for a student panel to ask beforehand and could ask questions personally at the event.
“We don’t want a debate between the people on stage,” Borel said. “We want students to be able to ask questions.”
The plan replaces a proposed candidate forum SG had attempted to sponsor before Tuesday’s midterm elections. Borel said too few candidates agreed to meet.
Borel said she hoped SG would have better luck bringing officials to campus this time because those officials will not be up for re-election.
“We’re now aiming at people who are already in office,” she said. “They’re not as concerned about getting votes on the road. They want to answer the concerns of their constituents.”
Borel and SG President J Hudson met with Jindal on Tuesday. She said one of their primary requests during the meeting was for the governor to come to campus.
Borel said she anticipated the meeting would be held Feb. 2 or 3 but said the governor’s schedule was the most important factor.
If Jindal or other officials decline to attend, Borel said SG would fill the seats with finance committee members from the State Legislature.
 
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Contact Matthew Albright at [email protected]