There are many things that have divided the University community, but few have physically divided it.
The lines drawn during the 2001 redistricting process divided the campus into three districts.
Every ten years after census results are tabulated, redistricting occurs. The subcommittee on reapportionment is in charge of drawing the district lines that determine what areas state representatives will govern.
“If these areas were not divided, LSU would be able to elect there own representative,” said Rhett Morris, Youth Elect executive director.
Youth Elect is an organization that helps young people learn more about politics.
Morris is not alone in his disagreement of dividing a community sharing the same interests.
In the Miller v. Johnson Supreme Court case, which dealt with districts that divided racial communities in Georgia, the court found it illegal to separate a community where the majority of residents have the same interests.
Stacie Hayney, a political science professor, said because the courts have not carefully articulated what the term “communities of interest” means, courts look at disagreements on a case-by-case basis.
Morris said dividing the campus into different districts goes against the decision in Miller v. Johnson.
Morris said the University should be considered a community of interest.
“Baton Rouge is a college town and we drive the economy, so we should have a district representative,” Morris said. “College students make up the heart of this community.”
But Wayne Parent, the political science department chairman, said a University might not constitute a community of interest because the majority of members – students – do not vote in the same district.
Parent said most students do not vote in Baton Rouge because they go to their hometown to vote.
Patricia Lowrey, a reapportionment senior analyst, said while redistricting lines divide the University community, the lines were not drawn intentionally.
Lowrey said redistricting is a tough process and an area has to be broken. In this case it just happened to be the area around the University.
Morris said there might be a legal issue concerning the redistricting in Baton Rouge, but he does not want Youth Elect to get involved in the argument.