After two meetings spent to discuss amendments to the election code, Student Government passed the legislation favorably at the final senate session of the fall semester Wednesday evening.
The new election code has been rewritten so campaigns and elections see less regulation by SG. It also gives candidates more options than disqualification if an infraction occurs.
Among other changes to the election code is an extension to the time frame of passive campaigning because it interferes with the First Amendment and increases on spending limits. Candidates can now spend up to $3,000 on their campaign.
While SG’s most pressing legislation passed was the election code, other minor bills and resolutions that were passed will have a large effect as well.
A finance bill was passed that will allocate $2,500 to purchase three water bottle-filling stations for the Student Union. The stations will be installed on water fountains by the ATMs, behind On-The-Geaux and by the SG Senate Office.
The plan to add a dry- cleaning service to the Union has made progress. There are plans to build the facility by the Kaplan Test Prep Center, but these plans are not final, said Senator William Baumgardner. A resolution was passed requesting the establishment of the service.
SG did not pass any legislation about the development of a smoke-free policy but is urging to students to voice their opinions on the issue.
Speaker pro tempore Trey Schwartzenburg said the Smoke-Free Campus Policy Committee is seeking input from students to decide whether the policy will include a tobacco-free stipulation.
Schwartzenburg said the tobacco-free clause has received a lot of negative feedback from students and will not be added to the policy if enough students demand so. The University is required by the state to enact a smoke-free policy by August 2014. SG encourages students to take a survey on this issue, which is available on the SG website homepage at sg.lsu.edu.

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Lauren Duhon

Student Government Presidential candidate John Woodard voices his opinion on March 7, 2013, at a campaign debate in the Holliday Forum.