A group of students held signs and chanted in protest as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott attended a Suzanne Haik Terrell fund-raising event Monday outside the Lod Cook Alumni Center.
Terrell is campaigning for the Dec. 7 runoff election against democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu.
It is suspected Lott joined fellow republicans President George Bush and Gov. Mike Foster in endorsing Terrell.
The Reveille and other students were unable to attend the donor-only event.
Police asked the group of protesters to move across the street from Lod Cook on West Lakeshore Drive.
Students held signs in favor of Mary Landrieu, such as “Vote Jobs. Vote education. Vote roads. Vote Landrieu,” and “Five, Six, Seven, Eight … Landrieu says we can consolidate student loans.” Protesters also chanted “Six more years.”
President of College Democrats at LSU Irene Stephens said the protesters were representing Mary Landrieu because they are in full support of her re-election.
Tonya Fulkerson, a mass communication senior and president of Louisiana Young Democrats said the group was protesting Lott and Bush’s support for Terrell.
“We wanted to show a presence for Mary [Landrieu],” Fulkerson said.
Jessica Downey, a political science junior, said she was protesting because Lott is the Senate majority leader and has the potential to sway voters.
“Landrieu is an incumbent, and that will be powerful too,” Downey said. “She is sitting on several committees and has brought a lot of money to Louisiana.”
Downey said the fact that former U.S. Senate candidate John Cooksey, R-Monroe, did not choose to endorse Terrell makes a strong statement for Landrieu.
Margaret Guidry, a political science junior, said she was protesting against Lott’s attendance at the event because he voted against women, minorities, gays and campaign finance reform.
“I think Terrell should be embarrassed to accept his support,” Guidry said. “Mary Landrieu is trying to consolidate student loans.”
Fulkerson said students should support Landrieu because she has students’ best interest at heart.