Cody Wells and Kathleen Bordelon took their first steps in trying to bring the University “together” Wednesday when they were inaugurated as Student Government president and vice president.
Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Enrollment Services Kurt Keppler said the ceremony mirrored the collegiate process, as Wells and Bordelon were going through “orientation” while outgoing SG President J Hudson and Vice President Dani Borel were “graduating” from their SG leadership roles.
Wells encouraged all University students and administrators to band together to build character.
“My challenge to you is working together with us to take that bold move, buck the system, do things differently,” Wells said. “Think outside of the box — better yet, think as though there is no box. Do things that no one has done before to make this place great because desperate times do call for desperate measures.”
Wells and Bordelon both thanked their families and all who contributed to their campaign, and Wells mentioned he is a first-generation college student.
“At the end of the day, our team was a family,” Bordelon said. “When the election was over, we didn’t know to cry because we won or cry because the campaign was over.”
Bordelon said she and Wells chose 48 “outstanding individuals” to serve on their executive staff.
“As for working together, it’s going to take every single person,” Wells said. “As my opponent said in the debate, we need all hands on deck here.”
Keppler, Hudson and Borel bestowed their congratulations and advice upon the newly inaugurated officials.
Keppler urged Wells and Bordelon to network, listen and “continuously be responsive.”
“You’ll find out that listening to the students is probably the single most important thing you’ll do in your term,” he said.
Hudson challenged the new administration to be daring while referencing his own administration.
“Do those revolutionary things,” he said. “Because not only can you make a difference in Student Government inside the organization, you can make a difference within the campus. You can make a difference within the state. You can even gain national attention to make sure that Louisiana continues to put higher education first.”
  Video: Wells, Bordelon sworn in
 
Borel commended Wells and Bordelon’s fire for SG.
“It is caring and passionate individuals such as these that make LSU an inspirational place,” she said.
Myles Laroux, who took part in Wells and Bordelon’s campaign videos “LSU lil finals week TEASER” and “Dougie In My Snuggie LSU Part 2,” led the crowd gathered at the inauguration in prayer.
Wells and Bordelon of “Together LSU” were elected to office after winning 57.4 percent of runoff election votes on March 29, defeating “Defining Our Future” candidates David Jones and Kacey Brister.
Wells and Bordelon have 22 initiatives listed on their pushcard, 10 fewer than Hudson and Borel had listed on theirs.
Wells and Bordelon plan to differentiate their administration from Hudson and Borel’s in several ways, the most notable being Wells hopes to sit on the LSU System Board of Supervisors. During the SG debates, Wells said his motive for wanting the seat was to prevent the Board from diverting money that should be sent to the University.
Wells has expressed his support for Hudson’s March to the Capitol to fight against budget cuts and has said he and Bordelon will “protect student interest” in terms of budget cuts.
Hudson said he is working to finish one of his off-pushcard initiatives even though he is leaving office — the Programming, Support and Initiatives Fund and Organization Relief Fund overseeing committees merger. Wells has fervently expressed his support for such a merger as the chairman of the SG Senate Committee on Finance.
Hudson previously said he wanted his administration to “set the bar high for the next administration.”
While Hudson and Borel faced the media directly, Wells and Bordelon said they hired a communication director to interact with Student Media.
 
 
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Contact Andrea Gallo at [email protected]