Longtime friends and Student Government candidates for president and vice president Brad Golson and Jenni Byrd, are living out their campaign slogan. The pair says “the new balance” is the perfect way to describe their relationship and work ethic.
Golson, a management junior, and Byrd, a marketing junior, have known each other since high school.
They chose “the new balance” as their campaign slogan because it describes their friendship.
They said they are different, but still remain close friends.
Golson said he and Jenni started their campaign saying they wanted to be unique in their approach to students and in the way their ticket was designed. They also wanted a strong, balanced ticket.
Byrd said she and Golson have a good time together, but they also get things done.
She said Golson knows when to work and when to play.
“I think he has a good balance,” Byrd said.
Golson said he thinks people have to have fun while they work, but they still have to get the work done.
“I want to make sure that we get our work done and accomplish things,” he said.
Byrd also said Golson has an amazing ability to connect with other people.
Golson said he enjoys hanging out with people. Other than God, his family and friends are the biggest influences in his life because they inspire and motivate him.
These are the relationships he holds close to him, Golson said.
He said his philosophy is to give back to those who have given to him.
Golson, who has several years of SG experience under his belt, said he always has been a part of SG in some way, and he feels the presidential position is a great way to take what he has learned during the last three years and implement it with a strong force.
Golson said his experience and involvement on campus has enabled him to obtain a wide range of views on various subjects.
“I think I have been very blessed to come in contact with people from all different walks of life,” he said.
One person from a different walk of life who he has come in contact with Jenni, a calm student politician who ironically hates “politics” and avoids the spotlight.
“I am just real,” Byrd said. “I say what I feel and think what I think, but I am into [being] molded.”
She said she prefers to work behind the scenes.
Golson said despite what people might think of Byrd when they first meet her, she is strong in her convictions. While everyone else might look at issues through the eyes of the majority, Byrd looks at it from a different perspective, he said. This often puts her on the spot.
Golson said she is not afraid to speak her mind.
Byrd said she likes helping people and seeing new ideas implemented.
But, she said she hates to see people and things being treated unfairly.
If there is an injustice Byrd is not afraid to stand up and speak out, Golson said. This trait may not always show when people first meet her.
Byrd said her personality has been shaped by the supportive people who surround her.
She joined the Freshman Executive Committee in her freshman year, Byrd said. She may not have gotten involved without the encouragement from the people around her. They pushed her to present a speech to the committee.
“That was my foot in the door,” she said.
Unlike Golson, Byrd said she was not involved with student government association while she was in high school.
She became involved at the University because she felt she could bring something new to the campus and she wanted to find her niche.
The Reveille asked each pair of Student Government candidates these questions. The Reveille’s questions are in bold, and Golson and Byrd’s answers are in plain type.
How would you get more students involved in SG?
Student Government should be proactive and bring more students into decision-making processes regarding issues that affect them. We want to get more students educated about these issues and allow them the opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions in arenas such as our Student Opinion Roundtable. We will pinpoint key issues that students truly care about and want to discuss, in hopes of making this process more personal. This way, students can see the real impact that they can have.
What do you think is the most important issue students face?
Student Government should ensure that students not only gain an academic experience, but also feel like they are part of a community while at LSU. We would like to see Student Government invest in creating a holistic college experience, so students have the opportunity to leave LSU with much more than a degree. We want to work to continue current SG programs and also initiate new ideas such as CommUniversity — a community service initiative — an easier reapplication process for residential halls and reallocation of tickets to post-season games. It is our hope that we can make this campus more than just a school we attend, but rather a community that we will always be a part of.
How do your plans involving the Master Plan and Flagship Agenda compare to the campus administration?
Our ticket agrees with the big picture and long term ideas for the improvement of the University. We understand that the only way to grow and develop is to start with a plan. We recognize, however, that a plan is just that — a document that can be changed and amended at any time. We understand that our duty as representatives of Student Government is to be proactive in investigating and educating ourselves about not only the Master Plan and the Flagship Agenda, but also other University initiatives like the Mobile Computing Initiative and the Freshmen Residency Requirement. It is important to also educate students about these plans so we can ultimately represent their voice in matters where they feel change is needed.
What changes, if any, would you make to Student Government?
The Judicial Branch of Student Government has the potential to make a greater impact through the implementation of a review board consisting of the University Court’s elected and appointed members. With a revision of the Student Code of Conduct, SG’s University Court could work in such a way that students could have the option of going before a panel of their peers when accused of an infringement rather than direct referral to the Dean of Students’ Office.
Is there anything specifically about Allen and Jason Wesley’s administration that you would like to continue or anything you would have done differently?
One of the most visual and praised accomplishments of the current administration is the implementation of the newspaper program. We would like to continue this and find permanent funding for the program. This service is a tool for professors in the classroom, students with projects or anyone who simply wants to remain informed. Having the availability of national newspapers provides students with real-world examples that can be applied to their degree program, taking learning to a new level. The program gives members of the LSU community a connection with the events of the world outside of campus.
What would you do to increase visibility of SG activity?
Student Government’s first purpose should be to serve as a resource to students. In fulfilling this mission, we want to become more visible through partnerships with organizations and departments around campus. With this achieved we could bring a new dimension to several of the programs that we have currently on campus. We will continue to publicize our upcoming events through the “SG Corner” [In The Reveille] and increase outreaches throughout the year so that students know what services are available to them through Student Government.
What are your thoughts about student parking?
Parking is an issue that has been plaguing our campus for years. Rather than implementing different changes every semester to bus routes or campus transit, we would like to see our administration develop a long-term plan for parking on campus. This plan should take into consideration the Master Plan and include input from students, teachers and administrators so that we can best find a solution to this never-ending problem.