While UREC equipment on the Parade Ground and improved lighting on campus may sound nice, Student Government candidates may not fully grasp how much it takes to make those ideas reality, according to current SG President John Woodard.
Woodard said campaigns are “naturally going to be idealistic and candidates are going to be focusing on things that sound pretty.” Woodard believes this year’s candidates are capable people whose initiatives are feasible, but he said being president or vice president requires more work than candidates may realize.
“There’s so many responsibilities once you get to office,” Woodard said. “There’s lots of events and relationships to build.”
Once elected, those day-to-day responsibilities often take up time that candidates originally planned to spend on implementing their campaign promises, Woodard said.
“It’s difficult when there’s so much transition going on between administrations to accomplish goals, and you only have a year to do it,” Woodard said.
Woodard said there is little candidates can do to prepare for the realities of office, however, because it is largely a hands-on learning experience.
Nevertheless, The Next Step presidential candidate Clay Tufts is optimistic and believes he can successfully implement his ticket’s initiatives. Tufts is currently SG director of external affairs, a position he said has allowed him to learn a lot from Woodard and Vice President Taylor Parks. Woodard and Parks are role models, Tufts said, because they have done well fulfilling campaign promises.
Some of The Next Step’s initiatives include developing an app for scheduling computer-based tests, establishing a Renew Middleton Library Fund and improving lighting on campus.
Christian Coleman, Experience LSU presidential candidate, said he and running mate Ashleigh Pichon have met with administrators to ensure the feasibility of their initiatives, which include an anti-littering campaign, making UREC equipment available on the Parade Ground and creating a 24-hour study space.
Coleman said while all of his initiatives may not be realized while he is in office, it is still worth pursuing them “to try to get them in the plans that administrators are making now.”
“It’s difficult when there’s so much transition going on between administrations to accomplish goals, and you only have a year to do it.”