Supporters of the “Forward” and “Restart” campaigns showed up in wigs, toting signs and cutouts of their candidates’ heads for Wednesday’s annual Student Government debate.
Zack Faircloth and Lindsey Landry from “Forward” and Kendra Davis and Louis Gremillion from “Restart” answered questions from panelists representing a variety of campus organizations, including the Residence Hall Association, the Interfraternity Council and The Daily Reveille. Two representatives from SG were also on the panel.
The “Restart” candidates said they want to open SG to include more representation and diversity, as well as work with all student organizations on campus.
“‘Restart’ is not about tearing down Student Government or the work they have done,” Gremillion, the “Restart” vice presidential candidate, said. “We believe in the power of the student voice.”
Candidates for the “Forward” campaign said they understand the large role SG plays in campus life. They said they want to continue initiatives introduced last year and move ahead with their own initiatives they feel could impact all students.
When asked what SG should do to prevent crime in Tigerland, both campaigns said they would be open to working with LSUPD and want to increase SG’s hands-on presence in solving the problem.
“We want to partner with Baton Rouge’s City Council as well as the mayor … to make sure there is more police presence in Tigerland,” Landry, “Forward” vice presidential candidate, said. “We want all of our students to feel comfortable even off campus.”
Gremillion said SG should actively condemn the violence in Tigerland and urged students “not to waste their money there until those bars are inclusive and accepting of all students on campus.”
Budget cuts were also a hot topic of the night. Faircloth, the “Forward” presidential candidate, said protecting TOPS would be his number one priority, and he wants to implement a system that would place an SG representative at the Capitol every day during legislative sessions.
“We can’t just say ‘Save Our Schools.’ We’ll ask them, ‘Let’s come up with a long-term budget solution that … stabilizes the education for all the students in the state of Louisiana,” Faircloth said.
Davis, the “Restart” presidential candidate, said she wants to maintain positive relationships with legislators while letting them know how much students value higher education.
“I definitely think we need to be contacting legislators, letting them know that we care about our education,” she said. “We have to get on their nerves. That’s completely fine with me.”
When candidates were asked about issues within the University’s Greek community, both campaigns said environment could be improved.
“Forward” agreed there is a problem within the Panhellenic Council, and highlighted the issues of sexual assault within Greek Life.
“Being a member of the PHC community, I have seen first-hand how sexual assault has been a huge issue within Greek Life,” Landry said. “We want to … empower those students who have been victims of sexual assault.”

Gallery • 12 Photos

Anjana Nair

LSU students show their support during the Student Government debate on March 3, 2016 held in the Union Ballroom.