Candidates for the Black Student Union elections presented their plans and answered questions from audience members at the African American Cultural Center Wednesday night.
The Black Student Union is comprised of students working to improve the presence of black students at the University.
While individual candidates can affiliate themselves with Student Government campaigns, they must do so under their own names and not the BSU.
“BSU offices are not a part of any ticket,” said Daphne Lasalle, BSU president.
Presidential candidate Maurice Gipson, a finance sophomore, said the BSU needs to have a more active voice in campus affairs.
“Either we’re quiet or we’re hoarse or the administration is turning a deaf ear to BSU,” Gipson said.
Gipson and his running mate, mass communication sophomore Teressa Breaux, have compiled a list of goals they would like to accomplish if elected. These goals include increased student involvement in BSU, building better relationships with all black student organizations and holding monthly meetings with the chancellor.
      Gipson said it was important to let other black student organizations on campus know how BSU can help them reach their goals.
“We need to get with the heads of these organizations and let them know what will we do for them,” he said. “We are here as a resource. We’re the driving force.”
Breaux said if elected vice president, she wanted to give minority students a stronger voice in decision-making.
“Too often at LSU, minorities get lost in the shuffle when it comes to making decisions,” Breaux said. “I hope to work with administrators to ensure we have a voice.”
Presidential candidate Brandon Smith, a political science and international studies sophomore, said he and his running mate, Landon Franklin, a business junior, had several changes in mind to make the BSU more effective.
Their goals include creating a constitutional convention with delegates from the 23 black student organizations on campus to help facilitate involvement in student activities.
“The constitution was written and amended by a select group of people,” Smith said. “We need to get other people involved. We have to get the attention of the people who are already here.”
Smith’s other goals include downsizing the BSU executive board, working with the BSU’s minority enrollment task force, demanding efficient relations with campus media, expanding the African American Cultural Center and emphasizing the need to increase black faculty and staff at the University.
Smith also proposed a “calendar rush,” in which black student organizations could combine their events calendars to avoid potential conflicts.
“Sometimes, you’ve got different organizations having events on the same day, and they’re drawing from the same group of people,” he said.
Smith said his plans stress action instead of promises.
“BSU hasn’t done what it’s supposed to do,” Smith said. “It needs someone willing to take a bold move, and I can provide BSU with assertive, strong leadership for change.”
Ralph Johnson, a political science and international studies freshman, is running for BSU parliamentarian, and Jennifer Grace, an English education sophomore, is running for secretary. Both are running unopposed.
Stephanie Chambliss, an accounting sophomore, and Charles Daniel, an ISDS junior, are running for BSU treasurer.
Voting in the BSU elections will take place April 9 at the AACC. All students are invited to vote in the elections.