LSU Student Senate elected a new Speaker of the Senate alongside a new Speaker Pro Tempore Wednesday at their final meeting of the semester.
Sen. James Williams III and Sen. Luke Ducote were announced as the new Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate.
“There is nothing more that I would love to do than work in this capacity. Student Government has had a very interesting and rough couple of years. It has not been easy, there have been attacks from outside and I can promise every single day I will fight for each of you, I will fight for this body.” Williams III said.
Williams III and Sen. Joshua Jones were both nominated for speaker of the Senate. Multiple members spoke up in support of both senators throughout the debate portion of the meeting. Ultimately, Williams III won by a vote of 50-15
Sen. Malek Badawi and Ducote were both nominated for speaker pro tempore, with Ducote winning with a vote of 47-1-18. Ducote, who is a newer member of the senate had multiple members speak in favor of him, such as Sen. Calvin Feldt.
“Luke Ducote is the most prolific new senator ever and has already worked on many bills that have made a difference in this body,” Feldt said. “As I said in the last election, he reminds me of Speaker Elmer, he is willing to get dirty, he had something get vetoed that just got turned down by university court, he will not back down for us.”
Alongside this, newly elected Student Body President Ben Barousse and Vice President Anna Katherine Harrell were sworn in by Chief Justice Austin Arceneaux. A large group of new senators were also sworn in.
Speaker Ethan Elmer gave closing remarks amongst the rest of the graduating seniors. He encouraged the body to keep fighting for their beliefs and passing legislation even through hardships.
“I have no doubt you will continue to raise heck like my class did. I want to thank you for the time that we have spent together. I will miss the drama, the highlights, everything. I look forward to helping the next body elect their speaker, celebrating tonight and never touching student government again,” Elmer said.
The only piece of legislation heard in the meeting in the last legislative session of the semester was SGB 40 presented by Sen. James Williams III. This legislation would appropriate funds to purchase new furniture for the SG office suite. The bill was passed by a vote of 54-0-1.
The Student Senate will resume in the fall semester.
