While most University students were shopping, sleeping late and working to pay off their Christmas presents during the holidays, many members of Student Government were working to plan events for this semester and continuing projects for the year.
SG president Darrell Broussard said SG officials worked during the break scheduling a concert in the PMAC, planning an upcoming week celebrating Louisiana history, negotiating certain student fees and forming committees for future projects.
Last November, Broussard announced SG was in the process of finding a “big name” band to play a concert in the PMAC.
Although negotiations fell through with SG’s first band pick, Broussard said he is still working to find another band to play.
“We had bid out for Dave Matthews’ acoustic tour, but it didn’t happen,” Broussard said.
SG’s bid for Dave Matthews survived the first round, but did not make it through the second or third, Broussard said.
Broussard did not mention any other band names, but he assured students SG is working hard to bring a similarly popular band to the University, and they should know who by the end of February.
Another upcoming SG event is “Celebrate Louisiana,” a week of campus activities dedicated to honoring the state’s history. It will be held around campus Feb. 2 through 7.
“Celebrate Louisiana is to help those who want to stay in Louisiana, but don’t think there are opportunities in the state,” said Allen Richey, SG executive assistant and project head. “It is to show that Louisiana does care.”
The event will also offer programs on how students can help Louisiana, even if they do not want to stay in the state.
Events will include a job fair, historical lectures, a political forum, artist lectures and a mock traditional street festival.
Broussard said he and SG Vice President Mark Higgins came up with the idea for Celebrate Louisiana during their campaign last spring to give students a small taste of traditional small-town festivals.
During the holidays, SG also removed the mandatory $5 Alumni Association fee the University tacked on to the diploma fee.
The former $30 diploma fee now is $25, but graduating seniors can choose to pay the extra money to join the Alumni Association.
Broussard said SG also will continue its efforts to improve campus safety this semester.
SG plans to participate in a lighting walk with Facility Services to look for unsafe or poorly lit areas of campus at some point this semester.
SG also is continuing to lobby more local cellular phone service providers to begin using #LSU — a service that automatically dials LSUPD from cell phones. Currently, Cingular, AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS are participating.
SG also has initiated changes in the elections process that will take effect this semester.
In the past, students were required to report to a certain place on campus, depending on their major, in order to vote.
However, this April students will be able to vote at any booth on campus, regardless of their major.
Broussard said the old system often discouraged students from voting, and he hopes the new system will increase voter turnout.
SG is working to develop an application similar to Semester Book to offer to all student organizations through PAWS.
Although it still is in the testing phase, Broussard said this would give student organization heads the opportunity to post upcoming events, assignments and other information on PAWS in an application only available to members of their specific organization.