Members of Student Government met with East Baton Rouge Mayor-President-elect Melvin “Kip” Holden Wednesday in Johnston Hall, Holden’s transition team office, to present him with a framed resolution congratulating him on his “historic” mayoral victory and welcoming him to campus.
The SG representatives also discussed working with the mayor-president’s office on key issues important to the University, such as traffic, unity with other Baton Rouge universities and job opportunities.
SG Senate Speaker Brandon Smith introduced the resolution in the Senate last week to congratulate Holden on being elected East Baton Rouge Parish’s first black mayor-president.
Wednesday’s meeting was closed to the press because Holden would not take questions from reporters after the meeting. The SG representatives presenting Holden with the resolution answered questions after the meeting.
SG Vice President Jenny Byrd, said unity among the Baton Rouge universities is important. The Collegiate Action Team, made up of LSU, Southern and Baton Rouge Community College, helps the universities collaborate and cross-program to unify the universities, Byrd said.
Smith said the organization is something that already is established to assist in furthering unity in the city.
Smith also said Holden discussed bridging the gap between the universities by possibly having the Southern and LSU football teams play each other for the first time.
Holden spoke about the possibility of internship opportunities in all branches of the city-parish government. These internships will be directed at college students interested in the government, Smith said. Their purpose will be to keep people in Louisiana and not leave the state.
Speaker Pro Tempore Theresa LoBianco said the internships show how Holden will directly affect LSU by giving these opportunities.
Byrd said safety is an important issue to the student body.
“Safety is an issue for everyone,” Byrd said. “It is something people are concerned about in the back of their minds.”
SG President Brad Golson also said campus safety is a key issue for him.
“I’m glad he’s on campus now,” Golson said of Holden. Golson said Holden can see firsthand what the University needs, and has a “unique perspective” from his transition team location to do so.
Smith said SG will try to meet again with Holden, who he said hopes to visit different areas of the campus after the Thanksgiving holidays.
“We hope this is the beginning of a dialogue and a better relationship between our University and the city-parish government,” Smith.