Several campus organizations want to get students registered tovote, and they are trying to do so through LSU Athletics.
But they are running into some problems.
Project Geaux, a newly formed umbrella organization of campusgroups that want to encourage young people to vote, wanted to usepublic service announcements at football games to get their messageto students.
They also wanted to set up voter registration booths at women’ssporting events.
The Athletics Department said no.
Student Senator Lindsey Landry said she contacted the AthleticDepartment around two weeks ago, seeking some information aboutbroadcasting Project Geaux’s message during or before the footballgame.
Landry said she explained Project Geaux’s plan of airing shortcommercials featuring LSU athletes promoting voterregistration.
And at first, the Athletics Department liked the idea, Landrysaid.
Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette said he liked theidea and hoped they could find a way to get Project Geaux’s messageout to students.
About two weeks later, Assistant Director of Athletics MarketingGuy Gaster sent Landry an e-mail thanking them for their interest,but the video board schedule is full for the season.
Jenni Peters, athletic promotions manager, said although theyagreed Project Geaux is a worthy cause, the only available time istwo hours before the game. Peters said it would be pointless to runa PSA that early because there are so few people in thestadium.
“We have a giant script like a TV show with everything planned,”Peters said. “It’s pretty set in stone.”
Peters suggested Project Geaux ask University Relations for someof their PSA time.
Peters said University Relations has two 30-second time spotsfor University messages.
But, for the registration drive issue, the Athletic Department’srefusal is not because of a logistical matter.
Peters said representatives from the Women’s Center, anorganization participating in Project Geaux, requested permissionto hold voter registration drives at women’s sporting events.
Peters said she told them no because so many organizations withworthy causes want to use sporting events as their forum, and thepromotions department does not want to favor some groups overothers.
They also must be conscious of their policy to abstain fromanything political.
She said using sporting events to promote voting is probably agood idea, but current policy makes it difficult.
But Peters said she does not think this is an absolute no.
“It’s time to open up a dialogue,” Peters said. “If they want tocall a meeting and open a dialogue, I’m all for that.”