LiveBlog: 3/12 LSU Student Government Senate Meeting

6:32 p.m. - Just as I predicted in my column this past week, the meeting hasn’t started yet. By the way, in case you missed the memo, this is Eric Freeman, Jr., blogging live from the Atchafalaya Room of the LSU Student Government Senate meeting. Let’s get it going.

I miss Colorado

6:35 p.m. - Where in the world is the Speaker??? It’s still sunny outside, and the Speaker of the Senate is nowhere to be found. Speaker Pro-Temp Ben Clark will be taking charge of this meeting, while I wonder just where in the world is Speaker Robertson. I never thought I’d actually miss him...

Vickey Barrett

6:37 p.m. - First in public input is Vickey Barrett. You may know her from the countless efforts from Sen. Matt McEntire and President Cassie Alsfeld. She was diagnosed with four brain tumors and a persistent form of lung cancer. She thanks SG for all of their love and support through this tough time. She is decked out in LSU attire, wearing an LSU hat, shirt and jacket. “The people here really make a difference in people’s lives, and I want to thank you. We should be combining our resources together to help more people on this campus. Thank you very much.” After leaving the Senate floor to a standing ovation, she receives is heartfelt bear-hug, courtesy of President Alsfeld.

Interim Vice Chancellor Eric Monday

6:43 p.m. - All I’ve heard about Mr. Monday is that he can get things done. The sun is blinding, and he steps in front of the podium to speak to the body. He talks about the focus of student life over the next few years. He will serve as interim Vice Chancellor, with the hope of “building a better environment for students to be successful on this campus. We need to build a better communications system to relay information between the administration and students in general.” He gives his email address, emonday@lsu.edu, in the hope of reaching more students on this campus. He also wants to start a program called “Monday on Mondays,” starting the week after Spring Break at the 459 Commons and sit to chat about the needs of students. The Monday after break will feature President Alsfeld.

6:47 p.m. - Senator Kristen Oaks, vice-presidential candidate under the “Vision LSU” ticket, just sneezed twice. I wonder if voters will worry about her current health condition to determine whether or not she will be a viable Student Body Vice President.

Just joshing you, Sen. Oaks. Welcome to the blog.

Sleep In A Box

6:50 p.m. - $10 will get you space on the UREC fields to be given cardboard and duct tape to construct a box in which to sleep overnight on March 29. This seems like an effort to raise homeless awareness, but constructing and living in a cardboard box seems sarcastic, elitist and wrong. There is a release form that I’ve just been handed, warning of the risk of injury. Sorry, I’m busy that night…

THE SPEAKER!

6:54 p.m. - Speaker Colorado Robertson just showed up. Oh well, better late than never.

Reign of glory ended

6:55 p.m. - Speaker Pro-Temp Ben Clark looks dejected, as if he just had a whiff of the throne, only to be cast aside due to lack of promptness.

Parker Wishik

6:57 p.m. - I think I’ve overinflated Parker’s ego a little too high due to gratuitous mentions of him in the blog. He speaks about other local media covering Campus Safety Week. He also wants to publicize Groovin’ on the Grounds, although no bands have been announced. Please, no one as terrible as Puddle of Mudd, PLEASE!

A newsletter?

7:00 p.m. - Apparently, there will be a newsletter posted about SG, called “The Roar.” It would have been called “The Buzz,” but allegedly, “‘The Roar’ is badass.”

Sen. Blanco

7:01 p.m. - I had to give Sen. Blanco a pen. Shame.

An Ole Miss Tradition

7:03 p.m. - LSU and Ole Miss have a renewed rivalry, and for next year, the students will have a say in the new trophy to be awarded to the winner of the game. To participate, just text 225-993-8842 with your suggestion.

Is Kid Rock worth $1 million?

7:05 p.m. - Kid Rock and Sara Evans will be performing in Tiger Stadium next month. Dixon McMakin is pushing for students to vote online or text as a part of The Gridiron Bash, a nationwide event that will award $1 million to our general scholarship fund. Tickets can be bought on Lsusports.net, and as McMakin puts it, “Let’s not let Nick Saban beat us at anything. This will be a phenomenal concert,” says the suddenly press-happy McMakin.

Three "wise" men

7:09 p.m. - The three men interviewing for positions on the Judicial Branch are promoting their cause, being “they need people to apply.” They proceed to poke fun at Donald Hodge’s footwear in the back, saying “How much did you pay for Jesus’ sandals? Like, 30 pieces of silver?” Their sarcastic tone seemed to emulate the guy in Van Wilder who originally started the movie dating Tara Reid. No one liked that guy, except the pathetic sorority girl who thinks he’s more than he is.

Easy Streets

7:15 p.m. - Sen. Amanda Gammon correctly points out that students parking on commuter lots before the Easy Streets are lifted would be in danger if they had a class that night. During the fall semester, nighttime comes sooner, but Daylight Savings Time has pushed the daylight to further in the night. The motion is passed, arousing applause, but nothing substantial. According to SG resolution No. 8, the SG will now “urge and request” the Parking and Transportation Office of Louisiana State University to change the times the gates of Easy Streets are opened.

What just happened?

7:21 p.m. - Sen. O’Malley has written a bill that would amend the Student Government’s by-laws, but O’Malley wants to push this to a vote immediately without going to committee, which is the normal course of action. Sens. Blanco and Jackson correctly point out this should go straight to committee, considering this involves examination as no one really knows what the bill would amend. After an inconclusive call vote, the senators stand to vote whether or not to hear the bill tonight.

7:24 p.m. - After a standing vote, the bill will be sent to the Rules Committee. O’Malley is visibly upset about the failing of the bill. Sen. Prestridge moves to go back to New Business, another senators moves to send the bill to the Finance Committee, the motion is approved, the bill will be sent to two committees, and my head is still spinning. These are the intricacies of SG that I can’t merely describe in the blog. This is why more students need to see these meetings. Other than friends of senators and Donald Hodge, the only other students here are two blog groupies. Everyday I’m hustlin’….

SGB No. 2

7:29 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge has presented a bill that would appropriate $740 to the Alternative Service Break Club at LSU (ASB) for their upcoming service trip to Panama City, Florida. It sounds like a reasonable request, until the purpose of the trip is revealed. This is part of an initiative called “Keep the Beach Clean.” Allegedly, ASB is going to Florida for a week to clean up a beach, hoping to use student fees to pay for it. There is a confusion as to where this money will be coming from. Allegedly, the money will come out of the Senate Contigency, but this Contigency is funded by student fees. So, basically, the students are paying for a good bunch of kids to go to Florida for a week to clean a beach. To be more specific, “we’re working with the ‘Keep the Beach Clean’ organization to clean the beach of trash before the Spring Breakers come, then we pass out fliers so we can raise awareness to keep the beach clean.” To quote Mitch Hedberg, “Whenever someone hands me a flier, it’s like they’re saying, ‘Here, you throw this away.’” I personally think SG’s money could be better spent, but it’s up to the Senate.
The Senate passes it unanimously, making me wonder how much more money SG will waste.

Sen. Remson's Resolutions

7:41 p.m. - Sen. Andrew Remson has written three resolutions to send our deepest condolences to Auburn University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for the deaths of Lauren Burk and Student Body President Eve Marie Carson. SGR No. 11 will establish April 16, 2008 as “Hokie Day” to commemorate the one year anniversary of the tragic shooting deaths of 33 people at Virginia Tech University.

7:47 p.m. - Regarding SGR No. 11, students “are asked to pray and garnish support for the families of the victims.” This is amended to say “students are asked to pray and garner support…” Support can’t be garnished. Sen. Remson allegedly wrote this at work at the spur of the moment. Sen. Prestridge asks that the word “pray” is left out in favor of “remember.” Well done Sen. Prestridge.

7:51 p.m. - The only amendments provided for SGR No. 12, to remember Eve Marie Carson, are grammatical and related to spelling. Sen. Remson misspelled the words “wheras,” “sacrafice,” and “jubliant.” A lot of time could be saved by copy editing resolutions and bills before they come to the Senate. Now laughter sparks over an argument to replace the word “slain.” The whole chamber is laughing over new suggestions to amend the word “slain.” “Maybe ‘assassinate,’ maybe ‘taken down.’” The Senate is laughing, essentially, about Eve Marie Carson. This is a disgrace. Speaker Robertson brings the meeting back to order, saying that this is serious. Sen. Elliot correctly brings up the point that many tragedies happen, and he will abstain from voting, as a need for a better memorial is needed than just a bill. He couldn’t be more right. After another senator claims that “this is an SEC school,” thinking we’re still talking about Auburn, Sen. O’Malley corrects her, saying accurately that Chapel Hill is in the ACC. The bill is passed with one abstention, the right one, from Sen. Elliot.

Just got back

8:22 p.m. - I had to leave the room for a moment to smoke a cigarette. Don’t judge me; you don’t have to watch the SG Senate body laugh over how to appropriately describe the tragic death of Eve Marie Carson. I just spoke with President Alsfeld, who exited the room for a moment to handle Executive Staff meetings, and I informed her of what just happened. Her jaw dropped, her face was in shock, and she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She pointed out to me that she’s had to talk to individual senators about their lack of tact in a particular meeting. However, she correctly pointed out that whenever a senator speaks out of line, it ultimately falls on Cassie. She is held responsible and takes the brunt of an attack meant to go to an inappropriate comment or action. By laughing at the language of a bill, specifically one to which condolences will be sent, the SG Senate has just proved not only their irrelevance, but their lack of respect for those going through hard times. Let it be said that the passed resolution to send condolences to the family of Eve Marie Carson was passed amid gratuitous laughter and a serious lack of respect. Thank you to President Alsfeld for talking to me. For anyone, anyone, willing to hear my two cents about this issue in person, I invite you to come to the SG Senate meeting two weeks from now. I will be speaking during “Public Input,” and it won’t be something to miss. I guarantee it.

Disruptions

8:34 p.m. - Speaker Robertson designates Anna Dearmon with the authority to kick out anyone being overly disruptive. At the same time, Token Delivery Guy #6 delivers McDonald’s to Senator Kristen Oaks. After crinkling loudly through the bag, TDG #6 removes his fries and retreats to the back of the room. Disruption?

SGCR No. 13

8:52 p.m. - Simply put, this is a concurrent resolution that would amend Article II, Section 7 of the Student Government Constitution that would allow the Speaker of the Student Senate to appoint a student to a vacancy in the Senate after 15 days if the College Councils fail to do so. Currently, there are 18 vacancies in the Senate, and the College Councils have the sole authority to appoint a new member. This will be in the form of a referendum that will be presented to the student body next semester. The main complaint is against the College Councils themselves, as they don’t regularly meet during the year.

After strenuous debate, the I’s have it with 76% of the vote, making this resolution Referendum No. 1 for the student body in the Fall of 2008.

New senator

9:03 p.m. - After a new senator is installed, the Senate is required to read the SG by-laws. I would have heard them if the senators weren’t talking through it.

Really?

9:04 p.m. - Secretary Chambers takes the podium to teach people how to spell check. I’m not joking. Let me say that again. Secretary Chambers takes the podium to teach people how to spell check. She congratulates Sen. O’Malley on his alleged bill-writing skills, which arouses enthusiatic applause. YAY! HE CAN SPELL!

Really?

Random Thought

9:08 p.m. - There should be a spelling test for future senators.

Student Required Fee Committee

9:09 p.m. - Time for the main event. There is one student position open on the Student Required Fee Committee who will serve for the remainder of this school year, until the new president is elected. Anyone, including myself, could be nominated for this position. Among the candidates are former grad school president Donald Hodge. Hodge is joined in the nomination pool with Sens. Chandler Cortina, Brett Jackson and Andrew Remson. Cortina will work hard to be open and listen to the students.

9:13 p.m. - Donald Hodge urges the body to vote for him as he, emulating Hillary Clinton, “is ready on day one.” He points out not only that there are no grad students in SG, but this year provided the students the highest fee increases ever. The policy of SG, approved a year and a half ago but left unchecked, should return the power of approving fee increases back to the students, and Hodge plans to implement this policy if installed. Hodge is so ready that immediately after his speech, Sens. Jackson and Remson withdraw from consideration.

9:18 p.m. - Opening the floor to questioning, the first comes from Sen. Whitney Breaux, as she asks the candidates, “How have your experiences provided you with the tools necessary to be ready on day one?” Hodge replies with the policy the Senate enacted a year and a half ago, emphasizing compromise with the students and the administration.

9:22 p.m. - Asked if they were in favor of fee increases approved to the UREC and the Health Center, Cortina replies that he was in favor, saying “things cost more now, and to be competitive, we needed to enact these fees.” Hodge says he doesn’t think they were necessary. He looked at both the pro forma and the budget, and would have voted no on both.

9:24 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge says that no student with which he has conversed likes the SRFC. He asks if there are any ideas to better communicate with the students. Hodge replies by comparing the current committee to a kangaroo court, citing “obvious conflicts of interest that need to be heard. There needs to be input from this body which has always happened in the past.” Sen. Cortina begins to answer by saying, “Well, I don’t know anything about new ideas or whatever….”

9:27 p.m. - Sen. Matt McEntire points out that he’s helping to pay for a rock climbing wall, yoga, pilates and other amenities at the REC that he doesn’t use. He asks if there could be a differentiation between what is spent between the REC, the Health Center and other facets of campus. Cortina replies by saying higher enrollment will help pay for certain things on campus, while Hodge points out that the students have voted time and time again against particular fees, including the Union Theater Referendum, shot down by the students but implemented anyway.

9:32 p.m. - Sen. Remson makes an interesting point. The students have voted down fee increases in the past, but when a part of the school needs something, they would potentially need to go to the student body. Hodge replies that there has been one vote shot down by the students in the last 50 years, and it was the Union Theater Referendum. Hodge claims it was shot down because the students were lied to by people like Neil Mathews, “who squandered $27 million, and it’s one of the reasons why he’s not here anymore.”

9:34 p.m. - Hodge and Cortina leave the room so the Senate can debate.

Debate

9:37 p.m. - The first senator decides to berate Hodge, saying “I don’t think it’s appropriate to give this position to someone who has given SG a black eye.”

9:38 p.m. - Sen. Remson charges that the role of this committee is to approve fee increases as they are presented, and he claims Hodge “should be discussing the fee at hand, not the role of what the committee should be doing.” He endorses Chandler Cortina.

9:39 p.m. - Sen. O’Malley says “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” He endorses Sen. Cortina. “I just know from reading his wonderfully entertaining articles he won’t say something that will make people listen.” He’s not voting for Cortina, he’s voting against Hodge.

9:40 p.m. - Sen. Jackson, sensibly, endorses Hodge, saying “let’s put someone in there who will study the budget, study the issues, and make the right decisions.”

9:41 p.m. - Sen. Elliot: “Hodge has been extremely disruptive, and the administration won’t listen to him. Sen. Cortina will make this University better, and whatever comes in front of him, like fees or anything else, Sen. Cortina will do a good job.”

9:43 p.m. - Sen. Breaux: “Some of you may hate Donald Hodge until the clouds roll back and Jesus comes back.” She wishes there wouldn’t be a rubber stamp committee. “He’s going to do the research, he’s going to work for it. You should vote for someone who won’t just represent you, but your constituents. Donald Hodge is that person, and if you don’t know, you better ask somebody.”

9:45 p.m. - Sen. Remson: “If you vote for Cortina, you vote for a voice and a discussion, and not for being closed off.” Sen. Breaux asks a question: “Isn’t it the responsibility of those in here to represent the students today?” Remson replies, “We need to think about the students today and the long run, not just talking about abolishing the committee. You should be working on the fee that comes to you, and not trying to reform the commmittee.” Sen. Breaux comes back: “Did you explicitly hear Donald Hodge say he would abolish the committee? Did you hear that?” Sen. Remson: “No I didn’t. Abolish is a strong word, but reform is close enough to abolish.”

9:47 p.m. - Sen. O’Malley asks Remson: “When you graduate, do you want your degree to mean something?” Sen. Remson: “Yes, I do, and Hodge would be terrible for this.” I can’t blog this fast.

9:50 p.m. - Sen. Hanna: “I can’t believe I’m shaking because of this, but I want to support former senator Hodge. He may not print the best things about us, but he would best serve this committee.”

9:51 p.m. - Sen. McEntire: “Let me bring some sanity back…This election is open to all students.”

9:52 p.m. - The new guy, Sen. Graham, was inducted earlier tonight, and says, “It looks like Hodge would be best for this. I don’t know.” Speaker Robertson points out that this is the first time someone has been inducted and debated in the same night. Welcome to the Senate, Sen. Graham.

9:53 p.m. - Sen. Eliot is back: “Hodge does come with a lot of numbers, but just last week, he came into this Senate body about funds he thought were misspent or missing, and he didn’t research the situation fully. There was a memo for the Chancellor he didn’t research. I’m of the opinion that he should do his research before trying to open his big mouth.”

9:55 p.m. - Sen. Palermo: “I understand how most of you feel about Hodge. But I know how much Donald has the students’ opinion in mind. I know that some administrators won’t listen to Donald, but he does have the best interests of the students in mind.”

9:56 p.m. - Sen. Abon: “I’m trying to put myself in the shoes of the average Joe Student. The students really don’t have a good outlook of us as a whole. I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’m of the opinion that there shouldn’t be someone in SG on this committee, and I ask that you support former senator Hodge.”

Closing Comments

9:58 p.m. - Hodge: “I’m not going to pretend some people didn’t say unkind things about me just now. I forgive those who did, because I’m a forgiving person. All I will do is implement this policy that was approved by SG in the Fall of 2006. That’s all.”

9:59 p.m. - Cortina: “We need to see what’s necessary and not necessary, and I will serve you well.”

Vote

10:00 p.m. - Ballots are being passed around, and I’m tense. Will SG be petty and vote against the right candidate, or will they see the light and do what they should have done a long time ago.

10:01 p.m. - And the winner is:

…..

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………………………….

Joke time

10:02 p.m. - During the vote, Senator McMann: “Why aren’t there any Wal-Marts in Iraq? Because they turned them all into ‘targets!’”

Ladies and gentlemen, the SG Senate!

10:03 p.m. - Speaker Robertson: “There will be no more jokes during votes. That was inappropriate and frankly, not funny.”

The new representative for SRFC is:

10:04 p.m. - Sen. Chandler Cortina.

Petitions, Memorials, and other Communications

10:07 p.m. - A quick word about keychains with police numbers on them. Good stuff.

10:07 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge apologies for no video student input. Judging by the size of the meeting tonight and every meeting for the last two months, there’s been barely any student input. He also congratulates Disability Services for their fine work. He also wants to apologize for laughing earlier, trying to clarify that he wasn’t laughing at the word mentioned, he was laughing at Sen. Remson, but is overly eager to mention the moment of silence he engaged in last weekend. He decided to talk directly to me, which Colorado said he couldn’t do, but decided to talk anyway about how I should reform my “atrocious” blog.
10:13 p.m. - Apparently, Sen. Prestridge was right. Apparently, the students come to SG to do more than just joke around. Apparently, I need to show more tact in my reporting.

10:15 p.m. - Sen. McEntire steps up would like to thank the reception they gave to Vickey Barrett earlier. He brings up Hodge’s comment from last week, saying “the wheels have fallen off of the bus.” He talked to President Alsfeld about his claim from last week about expenditures. He says, confirming what President Alsfeld told me earlier, that this was an accounting error, and not story-worthy. Hodge said this matter was brought to him by a member of the Executive Staff, and Sen. McEntire says someone going behind someone’s back “doesn’t have a place here.” He thanks both President Alsfeld and Vice President King, saying “they deserve far more credit than they have been shown.”

10:20 p.m. - Sen. Remson thanks everyone, Senate and Exec Staff, for participating in Capture the Flag. The Senate won, by the way. He says the Senate says a lot in the room, but last night’s game reminded him of why he’s proud to be a member of SG. His feelings about Hodge aside, Sen. Remson is one of the most honored and respected people on this campus and this room, and LSU should be honored to have a man of his caliber currently enrolled.

10:22 p.m. - Sen. Hanna thanks Sen. Prestridge for apologizing earlier for laughing at the issue of Eve Marie Carson. It hit a little close to home, and she was nauseous at the notion. I was too.

A certain someone

10:26 p.m. - There’s a difference between blogging and reporting, according to Sen. Breaux. I’m basically the main topic for discussion during tonight’s PMC’s. “Any of you can create a blog. Realize that blogging is a right, and you can do it too.” I think I’m done for the night. This is Eric Freeman, Jr., signing off. Good night, and good riddance.

Read the original blog posts at The Daily Reveille...