Student Government candidates for president and vice president Brandon Smith and Pete Schneider want change. Their campaign slogan, “CHANGE,” describes the change they want to see in SG.
Smith, a political science and international studies junior, and Schneider, a political science junior, said “political faith” brought them together.
Smith said they drifted toward one another because they were in the same class together.
They sat and talked, then realized they were both looking for a running mate.
Smith, who has prior SG experience, said he came to this University very much involved with student governing bodies such as the Union Programming Council and Student Government.
He said he is weary of “people politics” and he thrives off campaigning.
Smith said he is aware of the fact that politics can be emotionally draining because politicians do a lot of things to knock each other down and frustrate one another.
“But if you can keep your eye on the prize and understand that this is about serving the students, then that is your shining light in the distance that helps you persevere,” he said.
He has sustained political blows and political manipulation, but those things have made him stronger, Smith said. Besides, if no one is trying to stop him, that means that he is not a “champion for change.”
Schneider, who is not an “SG insider,” said he has a firm set of beliefs which he fights to maintain, but he will listen to other people with differing opinions. If their opinions prove to be better, then he will change his.
“I am always right, of course,” he said jokingly.
Schneider said he has experience being at different schools and living out of the state, and has heard a lot of different viewpoints.
Schneider, who has a family history in politics, said he understands the real political system and understands how to bring people together and get them to agree.
“Without bringing people together, you cannot have student involvement. And without student involvement, Student Government has failed,” he said. “Then it is just 30 people sitting up in the Atchafalaya Room every Wednesday. That’s not Student Government.”
Despite his political aspirations, Schneider said his dream always has been to be an Air Force pilot. However, his eyes have prevented him from realizing his dream.
Schneider, who is legally blind, said he was rejected by the Air Force Academy because of sight. The rejection nearly destroyed his life for three months.
He said afterward he decided to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institution and State University and pursue other options. He decided to attend LSU because he loves Louisiana and the University.
“I wanted a new view of the world,” Schneider said. “And I realized that Louisiana State University is where I need to be.’
The Reveille asked each pair of Student Government candidates these questions. The Reveille’s questions are in bold, and Smith and Schneider’s answers are in plain type.
How would you get more students involved in Student Government?
We will give students more authority in the decision-making process which is exactly why we are insisting, if we are elected, the laptop requirements [Mobile Computing Initiative] be placed on a referendum for a student body vote. You reach out to them, not just looking at what they say but actually bringing them into the decision-making process. By doing this, by completing our agenda, if elected, we are showing the students how important they are to LSU — not that they are just another body out there. Each individual student actually matters.
 
What do you think is the most important issue students face?
We personally think the rising cost of education is the No. 1 important issue. However, we have to come up with a way to make sure we do not leave those behind, who might not be as well-off. There are many people who come from very humble beginnings who have the optimal opportunity to receive a “grade-A” education at LSU. But we think it would be a major concern to students if money is a problem. We really think the student populace loves the University, but the cost associated with becoming the University that we are evolving into is putting a lot of physical strains on people.
 
How do your plans involving the Master Plan and Flagship Agenda compare to the campus administration?
We are 100 percent committed to make sure total equal access for people with disabilities is implemented. If you look at our platform, it says by 2015 we hope to have total equal access. There are some things in the Master Plan that draw up a lot of opposition; among those will be the relocation of some of the Greek housing, the African American Cultural Center, the Women’s Center and the International Cultural Center. These groups give our campus character, and without them it will seem so one-dimensional. We believe in academic accountability. This is why we will lobby the athletic and academic administrations to increase the graduation rate of our athletes. We need to find a way to transfer our athletic prowess on the field to our classes, and translate it to academic success. Additionally, we want to increase the diversity of the degree programs.
What changes, if any, would you make to Student Government?
We have to do a better job with building broad coalitions in SG because only then will we be able to tap into what students really care about, and we will be able to strike the balance between the two. We also wish to make the legislative branch of SG into two houses; The current one into a general assembly like the House of Representatives and a new one which will have two members from every college. The college councils would either choose the two members from within the council or the president and vice president will become the junior and senior members. However, we must say, this is not a “we will implement” but this is a “we will research the feasibility.”
Is there anything specifically about Allen Richey and Jason Wesley’s administration that you would like to continue or anything you would have done differently?
In terms of keeping the same we would like to continue the inclusive because inclusiveness is diversity. Great things come with diversity. Two examples are the recycling and newspapers programs. With the recycling we would like to look into feasibility and how productive has it been. Something else we would like to keep is Chats with the Chancellor, but we would like to bring it to the masses or maybe to the new circular wing of Free Speech Alley. Differently, would be a 20 percent reduction to the executive staff.
What would you do to increase visibility of SG activities?
We will do things that have an effect on the students. SG can always talk about how we’re great and all the great services we provide. But until you actually do something the students can put their hands on, something that will change for the positive their LSU experience, then you should not count on increasing visibility. This administration will be a government that does things for the students that they can actually see and be reported on. One of those programs that is tentative right now is a student-wide philanthropy. That way, students will think SG is doing something for somebody and they are doing something for them.
What are your thoughts about student parking?
We find student parking stressful and aggravating. It is not very efficient right now. The stadium is currently having an effect on that. The way to fix it is to improve campus transit and the bus system. By doing that, the students will not have to worry about getting to campus an hour early to find a parking spot. They will not have to worry about how close they are to their classroom because the buses will be able to pick them up and bring them to the building or to an area close to where they will be able to walk to their classes in 15 minutes. The way we solve parking is that we make the question not “how far do I have to park away?” but ‘how long will I have to wait” for transportation to get me to the intersystem of the campus. Posting maps at bus stops showing where the bus routes actually go is a very big deal.