Student Government President Stuart Watkins and Vice President Martina Scheuermann worked among lobbyists and politicians on Capitol Hill last Thursday. They traveled to Washington to meet with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and to discuss what LSU needs from the federal government. ‘We went to speak with Senator Landrieu to appropriate money and talk to the appropriation committees,’ Scheuermann said. ‘It was reassuring to see how much they cared about student problems.’ Watkins and Scheuermann met with Landrieu for about 20 minutes and discussed problems students face with budget cuts. ‘[Landrieu] is very committed to LSU, and she will continue to get LSU the things we need through the federal level,’ Watkins said. They also met with governmental affairs adviser Stacy Golleher of Adams and Reese law firm, which represents the University’s initiatives in Washington. She gave Watkins and Scheuermann an overview of how the federal government works and a legislative outlook of what will happen in the next year in Congress. ‘I love to hear what the students have to say,’ Golleher said. ‘To have that active of a student body is really important.’ Watkins said acting as constituents to the Senate and House of Representatives is SG’s obligation, and it’s important to let the government know what students are going through. ‘When Martina and I were elected, we made a commitment to working with administration,’ Watkins said. ‘Students need that voice in Washington.’ The main initiatives Watkins and Scheuermann discussed in Washington were two $1 million grants that Sen. Landrieu and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., have pushed. One grant benefits the National Center for Biomedical Research. The money helps build a’ work force for nuclear science infrastructure within Louisiana and getting nuclear laboratories up to speed. ‘Louisiana deals heavily with national security issues, and we do a lot of training,’ said Jason Droddy, University Director of External Affairs. ‘Some of the most important things that we can hope to gain is infrastructure.’ The other grant helps the University build infrastructure in digital media. Droddy said an institutional tax credit was passed several years ago that drew the interest of movie producers and gaming companies such as EA Sports to Louisiana. ‘We just needed to build an infrastructure and work force,’ Droddy said. ‘EA Sports liked the tax credit and computing power of LSU.’ Droddy said investments in digital media and nuclear science are two of the initiatives the University is pushing for in Washington. ‘We’ve got to move forward with research,’ Watkins said. ‘Landrieu is our person on the hill that LSU goes to.’ —- Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]