Student Government president Andrew Mahtook wants to make sure his administration stays active proposing new legislation and building on last semester’s momentum in the upcoming SG election season.
Spring plans for SG include finalizing the Student Bill of Rights and putting ideas from last semester into action on campus.
“All [students] see of Student Government this semester is spring elections, so we’re hoping to not slow down whatsoever and really make sure we’re making a positive change,” Mahtook said.
The initiatives Mahtook hopes to implement this semester include making cell phone chargers available to rent from the LSU Student Union and planting satsuma trees on campus, resolutions passed by the LSU Student Senate. He also hopes to start a program that will provide bus shuttles to and from commuter lots.
SG plans to continue efforts with campus organizations to promote minority diversity at LSU, Mahtook said. Last semester, SG began efforts to make campus more accommodating for minority students, including passing SG Resolution No. 15, which provided gender neutral bathrooms for transgender students.
“The issues and needs of the community fluctuate so much,” Mahtook said. “The biggest thing that we’re focusing is the right to not have your standing in a class be influenced by who you are or what you look like. Students deserve to be protected.”
He added SG will continue to team up with organizations such as LSU Campus Life and the Office of Diversity to address student concerns and promote initiatives started by other campus groups.
The Student Bill of Rights, which will be finalized in the
upcoming days, is another important item SG will focus on this semester. When completed, it will create a system of appeals for students to follow if they believe their rights have been violated.
Student protection is also a large part of SG’s policy initiatives this semester. Mahtook explained how his administration plans on rewriting PS-22, which deals with class absences and how teachers grade make-up assignments.
“Currently, if you get excused for a university absence, your teacher doesn’t have to help you make up the test,” Mahtook said. “We’ve been getting a lot of complaints that students have a final that’s worth 50 percent of their
grade.”
SG will also work on changes concerning President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List. The current policy requires students to take at least 15 hours, not including lab hours, to qualify for the honors, but SG wants to change the policy to 12 hours. Mahtook said that administrators are eager to work with SG to take another look at the policy.
“A lot of science and STEM majors might be taking 14 hours, but if you count the labs, it’s more like 17 or 18 hours,” Mahtook said.
Mahtook said the plans his administration has for the spring semester will focus on so-called “legacy items” that will leave a lasting impression on the student body.
With the spring election season right around the corner, Mahtook said he wants to make sure SG continues to have an active presence on campus.
“Hopefully it helps with the view of spring elections … if students see how much Student Government is doing,” Mahtook said.