Chancellor clarifies tiger situation
Tuesday’s Reveille featured a story on a “Captivating Cub” and stated that the owner of the young tiger, Dillon Landry, has referenced the “I Like Mike” campaign in his efforts to raise funds for both Mike the Tiger and his organization, Tiger Habitats of America.
As of this date, Mr. Landry has not made any donations to the University in any fashion. LSU is not affiliated with Mr. Landry’s “fund-raising efforts” in any way, nor do we endorse them. He is not a representative of LSU and has no agreement or authority to raise funds on behalf of the “I Like Mike” campaign or the University.
Mark A. Emmert
Chancellor
Student Senator explains election code
Despite a lack of coverage from the campus media, for the past several weeks the LSU A&M Student Senate has been debating an important piece of legislation that could instantly affect the way students move throughout campus. The legislation in question is Student Government Bill No. 11, commonly referred to as the “Election Code Bill.” This legislation, originally designed to streamline the election process and close loopholes concerning campaign practices, has taken on a form entirely the opposite. In fact, if the Student Senate approves the legislation tonight as currently written, students should feel ready to be bombarded by would-be politicians starting the first day of the spring semester.
Currently, the Student Government rules concerning active campaigning restrict the timeframe and manner whereby candidates can solicit your vote. The rules now work toward the idea that we are students first. Therefore the actions of a few people campaigning for office should not invade/be pervasive into every aspect of our lives. The rules in place also work to equalize the playing field for all students interested in running for SG office. The rules now specify the first day that a person can commence active campaigning, the total amount any one person can spend and restricts some methods of campaigning from use, all with the intent of giving every person a fair and balanced shot at getting elected to office.
What is unknown to many students is that there are multiple provisions in this new Election Code that will allow future candidates for Student Government office to begin campaigning years before the election takes place. Imagine walking through the Quad on any given day of the week and being bombarded by campaigners the same way you have been today. Imagine having a campaigner showing up to every meeting of every student organization you’re a part of throughout each semester. Worse still, think of how low campaigners for Student Government elections could go with campaign spending limits that are virtually unenforceable.
How can a few Senators that represent so little of our campus get away with this?
How about by hiding behind the veil of “free speech?” By saying that their right to campaign whenever and to whomever is covered by the grounds of free speech, a few senators (who are thinking about their own future in politics) have decided that the ability to seek office in the “play politics” realm of SG is more important than your right to attend class peacefully. What these few have yet to understand is that the laws concerning free speech (and that have been upheld by courts) allow student governments throughout the nation to limit the place, time and manner of the campaign actions of office seekers. This means the court has upheld that your right to attend this university and get an education supercedes the right of a few to enhance their political ambitions.
So what can you do to prevent these new rules from coming into effect? Show up tonight to the Student Senate meeting at the Atchafalaya Room in the LSU Union and tell your senators how you feel. Or, call the Student Government office (578-8727), talk to SG President Allen Richey and tell him to veto the “Election Code Bill” if it passes in its current form.
Jeremy Griggs
Student Senator
‘Evil’ freshmen are not to blame
Accusations are being made in these opinion pages and around campus that freshmen and sophomores are using priority scheduling privileges to somehow “steal” classes from seniors. As an Honors College freshman, I scheduled in PH1A with graduate students, athletes and graduating seniors.
Of the five classes I enrolled in, three have the word “introduction” or “elementary” in the course title. The other two are a lecture and seminar reserved for Honors College students.
Most of my fellow freshmen have similar schedules. For the most part we are just trying to complete our general education requirements. I fail to see how enrolling in 1000- and 2000-level courses can be construed as taking away spots reserved for deserving seniors.
“Evil freshmen” may be an easy target, but it does not mean they are the right one.
Sally O’Rourke
freshman
mass communication