TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
The work Student Government has done to improve LSU is paying off as the semester comes to a close.
While the executive branch took on various initiatives throughout the year, SG vice president Martina Scheuermann said concentrating on accessibility and sustainability had the most impact for the executive branch.
To make SG more accessible to students, the executive branch has sent out weekly broadcast emails, maintained Facebook and Twitter accounts, created press releases for events and revamped the SG website to make it more interactive.
The Senate has also been busy making themselves more efficient and visible in addition to creating two new impactful programs, according to Speaker of the Senate Tyler Martin.
The Student Initiative Committee will gather ideas from students for ways to spend approximately $5000 from Senate funds and put three of those ideas on the spring ballot for students to vote on.
The other program is the Student Government Postsecondary Education Review Commission. Based on the Louisiana Postsecondary Education Review Commission, or Tucker Commission, which was created in the last state legislative session to review higher education in Louisiana, the commission will research solutions and present the findings to the Tucker Commission and the state legislature.
“The object is to make sure that the students of LSU are well represented this legislative session with all of the discussion that will arise about higher education,” Martin said.
SG has also had its regularly held straight talks in more locations around campus outside of free speech alley in order to make themselves more visible to more students. They’ve also increased communication with Chancellor Mike Martin and (need title) Mary Parker about student issues.
While all these accomplishments are progressive, Scheuermann said she feels the new Holiday Shuttle has been especially important.
“We’ve had an outstanding response to the shuttle,” Scheuermann said. “Students and parents are very grateful, and that’s rewarding.
Other changes include increases in sustainability with composting at fall fest, SG’s recent involvement in Bike Week and a working relationship with ECO.
The survey for Groovin’ on the Grounds also marks an increase in student involvement with SG.
“This is the first time student government has asked students what they want to do with the fees they pay that will be spent on something for the students themselves,” Scheuermann said.
With constant work to improve life at LSU, high-involvement in SG can be a tax on time and energy. Scheurmann said the key is balancing roles.
“You have to balance wearing different hats,” Scheuermann said. “It’s been an experience finding a happy medium between being a student, a student leader and working with administration.”
Martin said keeping up with everything going on is the toughest part.
“The most difficult part of being the Speaker is keeping track of all of the programs, committees, and projects that we have on-going,” Martin said. “This semester went smoothly thanks to a lot of help from the chairs of the standing committees, and especially Brooksie Bonvillain, the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate.
Experiences in SG also have their share of rewards to offer ranging from hearing thanks from students to working with great campus leaders.
“Sometimes we can’t affect all students, but we can make somebody’s life a little easier,” Scheuermann said.
“By far, the most rewarding part of being the Speaker is having the chance to work with some of the most amazing leaders that LSU has to offer,” Martin said. “All of the members of Student Government have worked together so far this year to make sure that students are first in everything that we do.”
In the constant pursuit of making students’ lives easier, both branches already have plans in the works for next semester. Some ideas from the executive branch include working with LSUPD to install security cameras around campus, getting a deal on tracking software for students and an expansion of composting as well as also creating a sports calendar for lesser-attended campus sports events and another bus trip to a baseball or basketball game.
As for the Senate’s future, the two described programs will continue, and it hopes to provide more funding to student organizations that do not qualify through the Organizational Relief Fund or the Programming, Support and Initiatives Fund.
Martin said he wouldn’t change anything about the semester.
“I feel like the Senate has made some great steps this semester and will continue to do that in the next semester,” Martin said. “Personally, there is nothing that I would do differently.”
The only thing Scheuermann would change about this past semester would be increasing her one-on-one interaction with students.
“I want to reach more students so they know what’s going on; I want to open up communication,” Scheuermann said. “We’re going to try and get there.”
