50. Mike the Tiger can’t be fed in public because of “security reasons.”
49. LeBron James is the next Michael Jordan.
48. Twitter is evil.
47. iPhones are worse.
46. Smart phones were not made for smart people.
45. Talent isn’t skin deep. Yes, this one’s about Susan Boyle, the British singing sensation that looks like the offspring of Joan Rivers and Austin Powers.
44. It’s tough to talk when you’re teabagging.
43. Michelle Obama is — and should be — the hottest woman on the planet.
42. Short shorts with words displayed on the rear end will never go away.
41. Rap music is dying. Case in point: the new hit song, “Do the Ricky Bobby.”
40. Felons do the best work, as evidenced by their tireless efforts on Student Government’s Class Gift project.
39. Members of SG don’t realize how little they matter or how pretentious they are.
38. It’s tough to get to “The Next Level” when you’re at the bottom of the top tier. It’s even tougher to do “More” with budget cuts.
37. Crying gets you nowhere.
36. Hannah Montana is to America what hepatitis is to the third world. It’s curable and life would be better without it.
35. I’m kind of a jerk.
34. The Octomom is getting exactly what she wants in coverage of her lack of parental skill.
33. Sarah Palin thought about getting what she would outlaw across the country.
32. There’s no difference between Sarah Palin and the Octomom, only California isn’t dumb enough to elect Octomom governor.
31. “Scrubs” is dead.
30. “The Office” is dying.
29. For a hint into the stupidity of America, tune into any matchmaking series on VH1.
28. Jon Stewart is a better journalist than Sean Hannity.
27. Stephen Colbert, the current comedian, is a better journalist than Glenn Beck, the former comedian.
26. Rachel Maddow might singlehandedly save the value of cable news.
25. Chancellor Michael Martin looks more like the Monopoly Man than former Chancellor Sean O’Keefe.
24. Vice President Joe Biden doesn’t have a filter between what he thinks and what he says.
23. Neither does Rush Limbaugh.
22. Neither does Bill O’Reilly.
21. The Twilight series will destroy humankind before global warming ever melts us.
20. If you lived in Somalia, you’d be a pirate too.
19. Navy Seals are amazing.
18. If Al-Qaeda were smart, they would recruit geese.
17. America is only No. 1 in obesity and imprisonment.
16. Friedrich Nietzsche was right.
15. Martin Heidegger was dead wrong.
14. Joel Osteen missed the point.
13. The correct debate about torture is not whether those techniques worked, it’s whether those techniques were torture.
12. Ask the Japanese we executed after they waterboarded our troops in World War II.
11. None of us know anything, but we all share the same capacity to learn.
10. The truly wise questions. The truly dumb assumes.
9. Liquor before beer, never fear. Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Marijuana at all, you’re going to jail.
8. Bobby Jindal is running for president in 2012.
7. I’m not voting for him.
6. Neither is the rest of the country after his Mr. Rogers impression.
5. Capitalism is more dangerous than socialism.
4. Greed in a free society is more dangerous than piracy.
3. Taking a semester off from doing something you love to refocus study habits pays off in the end.
2. Taking a year and a half off school to refocus after tragedy pays off a year and a half after returning.
1. Fear the hat.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Fifty more lessons learned throughout this year
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Unity ‘09, One Voice ‘09 betray tickets for political gain
Student Government elections are all about empty promises and bogus campaign tactics.
Most of the empty promises I can live with. I didn’t actually expect SG President Colorado Robertson to follow through on his promise of a live, public feeding of Mike the Tiger.
But this election season saw a little bit of everything.
From a vice presidential candidate missing a live debate on TigerTV because of a sorority chapter meeting — that would be you, Laura Boggs — to the owner of a used car dealership with shady ties to a frat he left without the slightest bit of honor — hello, Ari Krupkin — I saw the best of the worst personalities on campus.
Friday saw the ugliest side of campaigning and the benefits of shunning an entire ticket for an endorsement with the potential for a staff position.
Both the Unity ’09 and One Voice ’09 tickets — headed by Krupkin and Melanie Oubre and Greg Upton and Boggs, respectively — endorsed Andy Palermo and Phoebe Hathorn’s
The Next Level ‘09 ticket for today’s run-off election.
In doing so, the four contradicted themselves in citing reasons as to why Stuart Watkins and Martina Scheuermann’s More ‘09 campaign didn’t merit endorsement.
“We have argued that this campaign is not about who has the most experience, but who is the most capable to bring about the change that SG needs,” Krupkin said, right before his running mate, Oubre, said she believed Palermo’s ticket has the most experience.
This happened right after Upton cited both Watkins’ and Scheuermann’s lack of experience in SG — despite his support for the novice Vice President Shannon Bates in their 2008 Foundation campaign.
This was after Boggs cited Palermo as the most experienced candidate.
Upton and Boggs have every reason to be bitter. After all, the pair almost contributed as much to their campaigns — $1,889.26 each — as the More campaign spent, $3,933.80, according to SG expense reports.
In supporting The Next Level, the former heads of Unity and One Voice decided to pretend their own candidates aren’t still in run-off elections today.
I would now like to pay homage to these candidates in today’s runoff, betrayed by the tops of their tickets.
From the Unity campaign:
Brandon Burke, Business vice president; Annie Jacobson, Education Senate; Adam Lagneaux, UCAC Senate; and Michael Jones, UCFY Senate.
From the One Voice campaign:
Ashley Johnson, Agriculture Senate; Brittany Bourg, Agriculture Treasurer; Sarah Bertrand, Agriculture President; Chaylon Brignac, Arts and Sciences Senate; Steven Belflower, Arts and Design Treasurer; Matt Babineaux and Beau Bebeau, Business Senate; Kelly Springet, Business Secretary; Katie Peaslee, Education Secretary; Beth Higginbotham, Education Vice President; Will Delaney and Steven Menard, Engineering Senate; Gabriella Arroyo, Engineering Executive Secretary; Blaine Fuselier, Engineering Vice President; Robert Ingram, Engineering President; Kyle Mancuso, UCAC Vice President; Brooke Story and Cody Wells, UCFY Senate; and Hannah Chambers, University Court.
A total of 5,467 votes were cast for the One Voice run-off candidates, while the four Unity run-off candidates received a total of 906 votes.
The Unity and One Voice campaigns officially sacrificed a total of 6,373, presumably in the name of their collective future.
By throwing these candidates off their already derailed buses, Unity and One Voice have proven to be anything but united or speaking in unison. They traded their tickets for whatever political gain Palermo and Hathorn can give — that is, if Palermo and Hathorn win today.
Congratulations, SG. You wreaked havoc on Free Speech Alley for the past two months in the name of your individual resumes.
No wonder more than 2/3 of this campus didn’t vote at all last week.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
SG class project beautifies ignorance of problems
Three inspiring University halls will soon be shaded by stately, yet unnecessary oaks.
The area outside of Dodson Auditorium will soon host a brand new courtyard, complete with oak trees, a vast lawn area and a money-making scheme to perpetuate future senior class gifts.
Intended as a way for the class of 2009 to “leave their mark” on the University, the proposed Dodson courtyard will feature purchasable and engravable bricks, ranging in price from $75 to $100, meant to fund the class of 2010’s future project.
The courtyard raises many concerns, from the source of funding to the absence of a substantial idea to improve — not merely “beautify” — our campus.
First, the courtyard would only be accessible from the parking lot connecting Stubbs and Audubon halls to Lockett Hall. An area to relax in such a congested space will only intensify the foot and car traffic, creating many more problems in an already claustrophobia-inducing campus.
The parking garage — a long-awaited yet incomplete vision for decreasing traffic problems — includes moving the African-American Cultural Center and the Women’s Center.
Postponed by delays involving Highland and Pentagon dining facilities, the parking garage would also house the University bookstore, freeing up space for other student activities and organizations within the Student Union.
With the Union’s renovation behind schedule — now scheduled for completion in April 2011, according to a Daily Reveille report on Jan. 15 — plans for a parking garage are on hold, further congesting campus.
Second, the University was already aiming to renovate the Dodson courtyard into something more useful than a strip of grass with port-o-potties. When SG came up with the plans for the Class Gift Project, the University jumped at the chance to pass the buck to the students.
“The University was only looking for funding, and the students provided a real way to pay for it,” Dennis Mitchell, campus landscape architect, told The Daily Reveille.
The final problem is SG’s lack of interest in student opinion on how fees are used.
The Dodson courtyard idea was funded by the SG Initiatives Account and the SG Surplus Account.
The Daily Reveille’s Editorial Board endorsed the SG Class Gift Project after initial hesitance about spending more than $70,000 of student money.
“If SG has to spend $70,000,” the Editorial Board wrote Nov. 18 when the bill passed, “given the rules that attend student fees earmarked for SG expenses, SG often does have to spend that money or risk losing it — we’re glad the money will be spent on ... something tangible, generous and relevant to students.”
While criticizing the spirit of giving back to the University can be viewed as mean-spirited, the fact remains SG did not give students the option of spending this surplus money.
SG is remedying this handicap, following a cue from the Ivy League.
In a broadcast e-mail sent by the Student Senate Tuesday, SG asked for student opinion on how to spend $5,000 of student fees.
“Out of all of the ideas submitted, the Student Senate Temporary Student Initiative Committee will narrow them down and check to see which ideas are feasible. The 3 top ideas will be placed on the Spring Election Ballot, and YOU, the students, will be able to vote on which idea you want your $5,000 spent on,” according to the e-mail.
SG is coming up $65,000 short.
Real change to the University cannot occur with this paltry sum. But if a contest was devised to figure out a way to spend a substantial sum of money — like $70,000 — the produced ideas wouldn’t seem like a lazy attempt at leaving a legacy.
Most students are only concerned with earning their degrees and leaving the University to join the rest of the working world.
SG could make a counterargument, since many in the Senate could claim the body has every right to employ what it feels are the best wishes of the students.
Reality check for SG. The Senate has 14 vacant seats, according to the SG Web site.
No wonder student opinion is underrepresented.
Originally published in The Daily Reveille...
Monday, April 28, 2008
SG members' costumes feature blackface, offend
Oaks and TusaI've had enough.
There comes a point where a person can no longer make excuses for the idiocy of their past or try to cover up relatively good intentions masked under a web of ignorance.
To think, Kristen Oaks fell 13 votes short of becoming Student Government vice president.
Not to say anything about her qualifications, which if you've ever spoken to her, sound about the same as any other person running for Student Government:
I'm really passionate about being organized and helping achieve the best interests of the student body. I really think I'm most qualified because I'm dedicated, I come up with new ideas and I really want to make a difference.
Now I'm an elected official.
I've heard some version of this song-and-dance for the past four months now, which sound slightly like comments made by someone fresh off a lobotomy.
But a lobotomy would prevent someone from either coming up with or actually fulfilling a desire to dress in blackface.
On April 19, a Kappa Delta sorority function entitled "Opposites Attract" featured two notable celebrity guests - Kristen Oaks as a pregnant Heidi Klum and newly-elected College of Basic Sciences College Council Secretary Nick Tusa, in blackface to emulate Klum's husband Seal.
The pictures - one featuring Tusa and Oaks, the other featuring Tusa with a woman named "Lois" - have offended many students including African and African-American studies major and former SG Senator John Collins.
In an e-mail featuring the two pictures, Collins expressed his disgust with Oaks and Tusa's actions.
"Typically, I would not be bothered by what my fellow classmates do," Collins wrote. "But these pictures are rather disturbing. Ms. Oaks is pictured as if she's pregnant, with Mr. Tusa to her extreme left. Both seem very happy and are smiling broadly.
"While Ms. Oaks seemingly did nothing wrong, aside from showing extremely poor judgment," Collins continued, "Mr. Tusa's actions are in very poor taste. I am offended and I am sure lots of other students on campus, from any cultural, racial, ethnic or religious background should be."
People figured I wanted to address this issue, as many are unfamiliar with the inflammatory nature of blackface, whether satirical or otherwise.
This has happened to me before, as the Student Senate debated President Colorado Robertson's Student Athletic Advisory Council, questioning one spot on the council reserved for a "minority student representative." The Senate looked around the room to find a minority who would take issue. When all 50 heads in the room turned to me - the only black person in the Atchafalaya Room - I waved my hands in exasperation.
It doesn't bother me when I am called to address these issues, whether racist or, in this case, ignorant beyond ignorant.
Blackface has its roots - no pun intended - in minstrel shows of the past. "Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions worldwide," according to John Strausbaugh, author of "Black Like You: Blackface, Whiteface, Insult and Imitation in American Popular Culture."
As attitudes toward black people shifted throughout time, the prominence of blackface dissipated quickly. Soon, reputable black entertainers, including Sammy Davis Jr., Whoopi Goldberg and Damon Wayans dressed in blackface to educate and to pay homage. Blackface was never eliminated from society, as Saturday Night Live actors Darrell Hammond and Fred Armisen regularly apply makeup to emulate Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama.
But Hammond and Armisen are actors. Oaks and Tusa are elected student officials, and their display, however innocent, is insulting on many levels.
My main problem is the party's theme, "Opposite's Attract." Obviously, Oaks and Tusa have no problem perpetuating the stereotypical view of white and black people as opposites. Their combined costume seems to scream white and black people come from "opposite" worlds, and when they "attract," white girls get pregnant.
Their costumes weren't racist, and I can't stress that enough. Their costumes were merely mind-numbingly stupid.
I questioned both Oaks and Tusa on this issue, and both replied, via e-mail, that they decided to pick a couple they admired.
"In no way was I trying to offend or make fun of anyone," Tusa said.
Oaks was slightly wordier.
"We DID NOT choose the couple because we wished to make fun of them, or because we thought it would be humorous," Oaks said. "We simply wanted to dress as people we admired. When we realized the impact that our portrayal created, we were and are appalled. Never was there in any way a slight intended to the couple or to any race.
"I chose to be Heidi because I have always admired her work and value a lot of the same things she does. She obviously embraces diversity, and that is one of the many qualities I respect in her. They are two very talented, attractive people: qualities we wished to portray."
Well, Madame Oaks, because you obviously respect Heidi Klum because "she obviously embraces diversity," I only have one question.
What are you doing Friday night?
I don't even need makeup.
Originally published in The Daily Reveille...
Read more...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
LiveBlog: 4/23 LSU Student Government Senate Meeting
6:39 p.m. - Eric W. Freeman, Jr., here in the Atchafalaya Room of the LSU Student Union ready to blog the khakis off this tire iron. Still not sure what that means. Right now, we listen to the induction of three new senators and the reading of the SG Code of Conduct. 7:06 p.m. - President Robertson talked with Michaela from Students on Target, saying “she did an excellent job planning Groovin’ on the Grounds, and we hope to make Groovin’ on the Grounds, while not as great as hers, will be up to par.” The plan for SOT is to move it out of SG and combine this into the Programming Committee, including the Union Planning Committee. The relationship and structure of SOT will change, but Groovin’ on the Grounds isn’t leaving. He thanks the Rules Committee for the eight hours spent yesterday going through the Executive Charter. The committee approved all of President Robertson’s Executive Orders for appointments except for two, which the body will discuss tonight. One President Robertson defends is Laura Boggs for Executive Director, whose job is to organize the office. 7:14 p.m. - Interim Director of Athletics Andrew Remson talks about the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry, as a trophy will now be presented for the winner of the game. The senators voted on the new name of the Rivalry Game, and 15 names will be narrowed down to five, and the top five from both schools will be compared as to what the name will be. LSU and Ole Miss will play in Tiger Stadium in November, making LSU the original host of the game and trophy. 7:18 p.m. - Remson announces to the body that Natalie Messina won News Editor. The senators clap loudly. Temporary Chairman Sellers 7:20 p.m. - Two people were absent from the Temporary Committee on Finance, and the group discussed the Executive Budget. Student Athletic Advisory Council 7:27 p.m. - Executive Order No. 30 will create the Student Athletic Advisory Council, which will work with both Director of Athletics Remson and the Department of Athletics. “Hopefully they will help poor attendance at things like swimming, tennis and soccer,” said President Robertson. Debate 7:30 p.m. - After speaking privately behind the podium with President Robertson, Sen. Andy Palermo walks back to his seat. 7:31 p.m. - Sen. Kyle Chandler comes in to bring up the 10th position in the Council, “One (1) Minority student representative appointed by the Student Body President.” Sen. Chandler argues that he “wants everybody to be represented.” President Robertson agrees, and moves to add a fifth student delegate. How interesting of the president to ask a minority-less Senate to get rid of the “Minority student representative” from the Student Athletic Advisory Council. President Robertson says he already has selections for the council. I don’t know if this is misguided political correctness or blatantly ignorant sarcasm. 7:35 p.m. - Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge discusses in questioning with President Robertson about the definition of “minority,” being taken to mean “age, religion, sexual orientation…” and the like. 7:36 p.m. - It passes with abstentions. Robert Starnes 7:36 p.m. - Robert Starnes is now up for a spot on the Student Fee Oversight Committee, and I know Robert. That’s all I’ll say about that. He previously applied for University Court, Trial Judge and now Student Fee Oversight Committee. 7:37 p.m. - Robert Starnes is enrolled. Taylor Craft! 7:38 p.m. - Taylor Craft, leader of the “Do Nothing” ticket, has been appointed, with one nay and some abstentions, to the Student Fee Oversight Committee. Really. Do Nothing is now in charge of doing something. Mark Hill Revisited 7:39 p.m. - Everyone’s anxious, so Chief Justice Hill is asking the Senate to “hurry up so we can appoint these judges.” Sen. Parker Wishik moves to bring up SGCR No. 34 which will appoint Sean Horridge to Trial Judge. 7:42 p.m. - Sean Horridge speaks about doing everything in his power to hear all complaints of the student body and exercise the correct judgment in decisions. 7:43 p.m. - Justice Horridge is enrolled. Ryan Hudson, Yunan Yuan, Mykell Clem and Trey Perry are all about to be sworn in, and I’ll be back in a minute. An anonymous source 7:51 p.m. - I just spoke to an anonymous source who told me the Administration doesn’t recognize the existence of either the Student Fee Oversight Committee or the Student Required Fee Committee. Robert Starnes, a former “Change” ticket member who got the least amount of votes out of anyone in the 2007 Spring Elections, and Taylor Craft, leader of this past Spring’s “Do Nothing” ticket, were essentially appointed to a “Do Nothing” committee which will not be called by the Administration. Will Harris 7:56 p.m. - Will Harris became the first student to ever chair the Media Board, and is “running” as an appointment to the Media Board. He “brings the true voice of student opinion on the Media Board.” Basically, Will knows a lot of people. 7:58 p.m. - Will gets it unanimously. Contracted Auxiliary Services Committee 7:58 p.m. - The first candidate is Cole Avery. He is appointed unanimously. 7:59 p.m. - Madeleine Golson becomes the second. The senators sound bored with their unanimous vote. 7:59 p.m. - Joshery Dubois is the third, again unanimously. Student Required Fee Committee 8:00 p.m. - Brett Jackson is the first candidate, and is given a question as to whether or not fees can be assessed without bias toward the administration. According to my source, the Administration “recognizes their irrelevance,” but we go on with this proceeding anyway. 8:01 p.m. - Brett Jackson is accepted unanimously. Mark Hill ReRevisited 8:02 p.m. - Chief Justice Hill is truthfully sad about leaving, but congratulates Chris Cummings, the new chief justice of University Court. “Thank you all, I wish you well.” John Volte 8:04 p.m. - John Volte is appointed unanimously to the Student Required Fee Committee. University Recreation Advisory Council 8:04 p.m. - Clark Lanius, already serving, is appointed unanimously to the council, again. Student Athletic Advisory Council 8:05 p.m. - Mark Slavich, unanimously. 8:06 p.m. - Josh Howard, unanimously with one abstention. 8:07 p.m. - Kelly Landry, unanimously. 8:07 p.m. - Maggie Placer, unanimously. Traditions Council 8:07 p.m. - Former vice president Josh King created and appointed this council, and is now appointed to the council, you guessed it, unanimously. President's Cabinet 8:08 p.m. - Madeleine Peters, unanimously. 8:09 p.m. - Cody Cadella, “President of the Rugby Club,” unanimously. 8:10 p.m. - Susan Reiners, “great girl,” unanimously. 8:10 p.m. - John Collins, in addition to PSIF committee, unanimously. Executive Aides 8:11 p.m. - The new doors will stay open on the first floor, being the first thing the students see. 8:12 p.m. - Drew Marento, handles customer service training at Best Buy. “Hopefully he’ll be able to bring the organizational skill from Best Buy here. Unanimous. 8:13 p.m. - Aly Neel, unanimously. 8:14 p.m. - Melissa Guidry, unanimously. 8:15 p.m. - Johnnetria Weakley, unanimously. 8:15 p.m. - Cali Meyer, “Same, ditto” from Robertson, unanimously. Legislative Aide 8:16 p.m. - Speaker Clark’s turn. Brett Jackson, unanimously. 8:17 p.m. - Devin Ricci, unanimously. 8:18 p.m. - Lauren Breeland, unanimously. There will be more appointments next semester. Executive Budget 8:18 p.m. - Student Government Bill No. 1 is the Executive Budget, written by Sens. Palermo, Sellers and Bonvillain. College council budgets went down because of a decrease in enrollment. This $109,672 is provided by $2.20 from every student in the Fall of ‘08 and the Spring of ‘09. President Robertson presses for an increase in spending for promotion of Student Government events, which moves money to the Executive Branch. 8:26 p.m. - A question comes up about “telephone services,” and last year, telephone services went from $6,600 under Alsfeld to $4,800 under Robertson. They have to pay for the phone lines in the Executive Office. Also, the Office Manager, known as “Administrative Coordinator,” costs $15,000, which goes to software and a person’s salary. President Robertson believes a trained professional will be needed to process documentation, make purchase orders and every other facet of allotting money and making sure the money pays for what it should. 8:29 p.m. - Sen. Amanda Gammon asks about the surplus money that was supposed to roll over. President Robertson says this money is the operational budget, and is paid for with student enrollment and fees next year. Debate 8:33 p.m. - $1,500 of the Legislative Branch’s Constituent Notifications were moved last night to the Executive Branch’s Executive Notifications. A motion to amend $500 back to the Legislative Branch was made by Sen. McMann, deemed hostile by Sen. Palermo. Debate now starts about moving this money. 8:35 p.m. - Sen. Chandler asks a question, “Aren’t the college councils supposed to do this dirty work before this gets to the Senate?” Way to take responsibility. 8:35 p.m. - Speaker Clark speaks about vacancies in the college councils, saying he will try to fill vacant positions in the college councils as best as he can. 8:36 p.m. - Recess for one minute. The Budget passes... 8:52 p.m. - Sen. Kelli Eason pushes the senators to vote for Laura. The two have known each other for about a year, working together in the Office of Admissions. Laura’s age is brought up, as she is 21, older than most senators. “Where is our state going? Bobby Jindal is 36. Where is our country going? Barack Obama is the front runner and he’s in his 40’s … please vote for her. 8:54 p.m. - Sen. Chandler was on the Temporary Rules Committee, and if Micah West decides to leave, Sen. Chandler brings up whether or not she can handle this responsibility. “You did a lot in high school, but we wanted to know whether or not she could handle this on a much larger scale.” 8:55 p.m. - Sen. Eason asks whether or not Sen. Chandler knows that her participation of state rally is “state-wide.” Sen. Chandler speaks instead about the transition from high school to college. 8:57 p.m. - Sen. Sellers asks whether or not she Boggs could pick up the slack if Chief of Staff Micah West were to resign. Sen. Chandler says that he personally hasn’t interviewed anyone personally, and cannot answer. 8:59 p.m. - A flurry of controversy sparks over possible replacements, starting from Sen. Jackson. Ridiculous banter and threats of lawsuits fly, quicker than I can blog. 9:01 p.m. - A senator asks, “Can we get past this technical jargon and get back to talking about Laura?” One man in the back claps. 9:02 p.m. - Sen. Wishik remarks on Laura’s impeccable work on the Foundation ticket, which arises a question regarding the relevance of party affiliation. Sen. Wishik implores the body to vote for her, citing her service record during her time. 9:04 p.m. - Questions about affiliations with Micah and the Foundation ticket distract the body from voting on Laura. Again. 9:05 p.m. - The anti-technical jargon senator knows Laura and cites her two best assets, “communication skills and organization. That’s exactly what this position needs. I think she’s the best qualified.” 9:06 p.m. - Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge speaks directly to Sen. Jackson about the Rules Committee and lack of her presence at the Executive Session. Speaker Clark bangs the gavel to end the nonsense, and Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge moves favorable passage. 9:08 p.m. - With a healthy number of abstentions, Laura Boggs is appointed Executive Director. Executive Assistant to the President 9:08 p.m. - J.P. Abon served as an appointed senator this past semester, and he advocates transparency, trying to be a voice for students. “I came up here and resonated their voice and opinions, and I plan to do that with the college councils.” His job would entail organization for the president, as “he’s kind of a messy guy.” 9:10 p.m. - Abon: “I’ve been advised to not say anything sad or demoralizing as it will make Ben Clark cry.” 9:11 p.m. - After a unanimous vote, Abon spins in a circle before exiting. Executive Assistant to the Vice President 9:11 p.m. - Daniel Marsh “revolves around the principles of we.” He is brief in his comments, but is approved unanimously. Webmaster 9:12 p.m. - Stephen Martinez. “I rock, and when I communicate, I roar.” Flurry of applause. 9:13 p.m. - Unanimous. Press Secretary 9:14 p.m. - Ellen Carmichael. Unanimous. Director of Finance 9:16 p.m. - Sarah Nowacki. They’re all talking about how “awesome” everyone is going to be. There’s no chance of anyone getting denied from anything. 9:18 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Finance 9:19 p.m. - Now this blog is starting to serve the role of angry stenographer. 9:20 p.m. - Phoebe Hathorn. 9:20 p.m. - Unanimous. Director of Academics 9:21 p.m. - Bryce Addison wants to work more with computer-based testing, improve online accessibility, including problems from “Easy Streets.” He wants the degree audit to be more interactive and accessible, thinking about the W policy, and others. 9:21 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Academics 9:22 p.m. - Jonathan Walker. 9:22 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Academics again 9:23 p.m. - Lorra Ashley Bryant. 9:23 p.m. - Unanimous. President Robertson 9:24 p.m. - He wanted to address everyone and to keep their comments as brief as possible. But, “ask as many questions as you want. Question them thoroughly. That’s what this body is for.” OH REALLY?!?!? WOW! I haven’t heard anyone question anyone since Laura Boggs. Director of Athletics 9:26 p.m. - Andrew Remson. 9:27 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Athletics 9:27 p.m. - Molly Hall. 9:27 p.m. - No questions. 9:27 p.m. - No debate. 9:27 p.m. - Unanimous. Director of Campus Development 9:28 p.m. - Corey Graham. 9:28 p.m. - No questions. 9:28 p.m. - No debate. 9:28 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Campus Development 9:29 p.m. - Cole Avery. 9:29 p.m. - No questions. 9:29 p.m. - No debate. 9:29 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Campus Development 9:29 p.m. - Kaitlyn Derenbecker brings up her high school information. 9:29 p.m. - No questions. 9:29 p.m. - No debate. 9:30 p.m. - Unanimous. Director of External Affairs 9:30 p.m. - James Zitzmann. 9:30 p.m. - No questions. 9:30 p.m. - No debate. 9:30 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of External Affairs 9:31 p.m. - Jude Burnet. 9:31 p.m. - No questions. 9:31 p.m. - Sen. Palermo comes up for debate, but he voted in the negative yesterday in committee. He thinks Jude is a great person, and wanted to clarify his vote. 9:32 p.m. - Sen. Edwards has known Jude for a year, and would do great. 9:32 p.m. - Unanimous, yet woeful. 9:33 p.m. - Brittney Lombas. 9:33 p.m. - No questions. 9:33 p.m. - No debate. 9:33 p.m. - Unanimous. One abstention. Director of Transportation 9:34 p.m. - Brandon Boyd. 9:34 p.m. - No questions. 9:34 p.m. - No debate. 9:34 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Transportation 9:35 p.m. - Taylor LeMay. 9:35 p.m. - I think you get the gist. If the candidates talk, they give stats from the high schools, the Senate will ask no questions, there will be no debate, and the vote will be unanimous with maybe an optional abstention here and there. We get it. 9:37 p.m. - The Administration could give me the power to appoint these people, so the senators and directors and assistants could go home and study for finals instead of meeting and approving various appointments. 9:39 p.m. - They’re actually asking this guy questions relating to what he said in his introduction. Everyone else kept their comments brief, saying they’re “looking forward to working for the University.” LeMay said way too much. 9:40 p.m. - Sen. Gammon asks whether he will continue to work for Tiger TV, and he doesn’t know. Questions about his promptness for meetings comes up, but he assures “I never really missed anything.” 9:41 p.m. - No debate. 9:42 p.m. - Unanimous with various abstentions. 9:42 p.m. - Derek Killebrew. Talked up by President Robertson. 9:42 p.m. - No questions. 9:42 p.m. - No debate. 9:42 p.m. - Unanimous. 9:43 p.m. - Nita Clark. 9:43 p.m. - No questions. 9:43 p.m. - No debate. 9:43 p.m. - Unanimous. 9:44 p.m. - Jeffrey Noel. 9:44 p.m. - Sen. Wishik asks about a meeting over the summer, and Noel works in the bookstore and will be here all summer. 9:45 p.m. - No debate. 9:45 p.m. - Unanimous. More unanimity 9:53 p.m. - Katie Cicardo. 9:53 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Student Involvement 9:53 p.m. - Travis Andrews. 9:53 p.m. - Sen. Chandler votes no because he says Travis cares more about Exec Staff than Legislative. “He strives to do something bigger and really doesn’t care much about Senate.” 9:54 p.m. - He’s baraged by questions about qualifications, saying, “I think he’s qualified, but my personal opinion is that he should not be ambivalent to the Senate while pursuing an office of that much power.” 9:55 p.m. - Sen. Meghan Hanna, you don’t think I have Facebook? I know this is boring, but if you’d rather update your Facebook status instead of pay attention to the meeting, you should leave. 9:57 p.m. - Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge and Sen. Edwards support Andrews, saying, “we shouldn’t hold it against him that he left Senate for something better. I don’t think we should hold that against him.” 10:00 p.m. - Unanimous with various abstentions. Assistant Director of Student Involvement 10:00 p.m. - Brittany Smith. Freshman Leadership Council. Delta Sigma Phi. Very, VERY, blonde. 10:01 p.m. - Sen. Wishik points out the importance of FLC. 10:02 p.m. - Unanimous. 10:04 p.m. - Sen. Gammon, sitting next to me, decides not to vote. 10:05 p.m. - Iftekhar Rouf. My old pal Ifti. 10:05 p.m. - One question. 10:06 p.m. - Sen. Eason decided to stand behind me. She sat earlier all the way across the room, “because Sen. Wishik made me.” She was against the gun resolution from last week, and is my girl. 10:06 p.m. - No debate. 10:07 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Student Involvement 10:07 p.m. - Denise Dupree. Freshman in political science. The senate is talking amongst themselves quietly while Dupree talks, showing a serious lack of respect. 10:07 p.m. - No questions as some members text. 10:08 p.m. - No debate. 10:08 p.m. - Unanimous. Assistant Director of Student Involvement 10:08 p.m. - Tyler Abadie. President Robertson talks him up. 10:09 p.m. - No questions. 10:09 p.m. - No debate. 10:09 p.m. - Unanimous. Election Board 10:09 p.m. - Emmy Gill. 10:10 p.m. - No questions. 10:10 p.m. - No debate. 10:10 p.m. - Unanimous with one abstention. Election Board 10:10 p.m. - Jordan Milazzo. 10:11 p.m. - No questions. 10:11 p.m. - No debate. 10:11 p.m. - Unanimous. Election Board 10:11 p.m. - Kristin Davis. She thanks the body for “letting me be here tonight.” Well, it’s the Student Government. All students are invited. She’s a Delta Zeta, by the way. 10:13 p.m. - No questions. 10:13 p.m. - No debate. 10:13 p.m. - Unanimous. Standing Committees 10:13 p.m. - Speaker Clark’s Committee Appointments. 10:14 p.m. - No questions. 10:14 p.m. - No debate. 10:14 p.m. - Unanimous. 10:15 p.m. - Secretary Emily Chambers is nominated for Secretary, and is the only one nominated. Speaker Clark says the position was advertised, but the potentials couldn’t apply and just had to know to be here tonight. 10:17 p.m. - Chambers is the only applicant, and the applicant for undersecretary was the only one either, so both are approved by acclimation. 10:19 p.m. - Four-way battle: Meghan Hanna, Parker Wishik, Brett Jackson and Melissa Hart. I asked Sen. Hart over to ask her name, which she informed me before shaking my hand harder than some men I know. Bottom line, I’ll consider the history of this voting body, as Hart and Wishik are both new, and Brett Jackson has lost a lot races. I’ll predict Sen. Hanna wins it. 10:21 p.m. - Hanna is in a sorority. Hart is a freshman. Hart follows every “freshman sorority girl” stereotype, without the blonde hair. 10:22 p.m. - Jackson begins by saying he has no Mass Com experience, but that’s why this qualifies him, as he is “an informed student, uninformed with Mass Com.” Sen. Sellers asks what Media Board does, which Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge steps in to qualify. 10:23 p.m. - Donald Hodge gets on my nerves sometimes. He’s sitting next to me right now, gloating because he doesn’t have to blog. 10:25 p.m. - Debate has been limited to two minutes. The Senate only has 20 minutes until they get kicked out of the room. People are getting uppity about time limits and inferences. 10:26 p.m. - Sen. Wishik has a direct relationship with Student Media, and cites people he works with and branches to work with. After all, he was just Director of Communications. “I know how these things work.” 10:28 p.m. - Without debate, it goes straight to a vote. 10:35 p.m. - Now they’re getting lazy. They want to get people out of here so bad, four committee elections have been moved to the fall semester. Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge calls “division” on the vote, which means the senators must stand to vote instead of saying “aye.” 10:37 p.m. - It passes. 10:37 p.m. - Sen. Megan Blanco offers her goodbye. She has to make it quick, but she has also met some “egotistical, self-gratifying people.” She asks the body to ask their constituents what they want. She’s done this in front of class. “Don’t be afraid to stand up.” She offers a brief, yet heartfelt goodbye, right before insulting me to my face. Thanks for ruining it, and good riddance. “Please work for the students.” She should try first. I introduced Sen. Blanco to five of her “constituents” in the College of Arts and Sciences. Chit-chat breaks out, forcing Anna Dearmon to scream at everyone to quiet down. 10:40 p.m. - Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge wanted to thank the body for hearing every resolution, but “as senators, it’s our job to question … don’t be afraid to voice your opinion. We do have a backbone.” Really?!? 10:43 p.m. - Sen. Hanna thanks the new senators for listening to the candidates for today’s appointments. People keep reading my blog. Sen. Hanna says “I have some gum for you if you want to get that throw up taste out of your mouth.” Sen. Blanco replies, “I already do.” Hee hee, I started drama because people can’t pay attention to the meeting in favor of this blog. All of you should be ashamed. 10:45 p.m. - Sen. Wishik thanks the Senate for electing him to Media Board. He addresses the wasted time on points of information and clarification that don’t have anything to do with topics of discussions.
Full Agenda
6:43 p.m. - Tonight under Unfinished Business, we’ve got 35 Executive Orders, four Legislative Orders, the Executive Budget, 38 Concurrent Resolutions and a whole host of elections. We’re going to be here for a while.
Groovin' on the Grounds gets whacked
6:47 p.m. - A banner day once again. The leader of Students on Target is expressing her dismay with the removal of Groovin’ on the Grounds as Students on Target’s production. She likens her experience in planning Groovin’ on the Grounds to a dream, but she says, “I’ve worked hard on something people told me I couldn’t ever do and with the removal of Students on Target I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back … for eleven years, Groovin’ on the Grounds has been a good time not wasted.” She talked to President Robertson about the subject, and he said the program group would be reformed.
Debate sends thanks
6:54 p.m. - A representative of the Speech and Debate team and former SG senator comes back to thank the body for allowing them to compete in the NFA, the national debate tournament in Nashville. SG gave $10,000 to the debate team for their competition, and notable shout out goes to Ginger Gibson for getting 24th in the country in blind debate. Kudos!
Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge
6:56 p.m. - Prestridge was the Senate representative on the Media Board, the board which elects editors for student media. An election will be held tonight in the meeting for the new representative. Congratulations to Kyle Whitfield for becoming the Daily Reveille’s new editor-in-chief.
Sitting with the body?
6:59 p.m. - This past semester, Speaker Robertson and Speaker Pro Tem Clark sat next to each other in the table in the front. Tonight, Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge is sitting front and center of the Senate body and not at the front table. I don’t get it.
Sen. Andrew Remson
7:00 p.m. - Sen. Andrew Remson says farewell to the Senate body, and leaves the body with three big thoughts. “Look around you senators. The people you will work with in the Senate, you will treasure those friendships forever.” I thought it was inspirational, until he unveils the fact that, because of former senators, he gets to meet Sen. John McCain and got tickets to this weekend’s NFL Draft. I’m sure Sen. Remson treasures his Senate time just fine. His second point is to accomplish much. His third, “Student Government has a bad name sometimes … but the worst thing an organization can do is to not allow someone to serve.” He thanks everyone he worked with and will remember this work fondly as he offers his resignation.
Chief Justice Mark Hill
7:05 p.m. - The new justices are meeting in the Orleans Room of the Student Union, and Chief Justice Hill makes his farewell as chief justice, but is a little too emphatic about his desire to leave.
President Colorado Robertson
7:23 p.m. - As Temporary Rules Committee Chairman, Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge and his group stayed for eight hours looking over appointments. Concerns include Jude Burnet, Kaitlyn Derenbecker and Travis Andrews, who received a tie-breaking “aye” vote from Chairman Prestridge for Assistant Director of Student Involvement. He also brought up Laura Boggs, about whom the resolution had no action taken.
7:53 p.m. - During this time, Holden Wright was also appointed to the Student Fee Oversight Committee. Andy Palermo, Joe Curry and Chris Young were appointed to the Student Tech Fee Committee. John Collins, Austin Davies, Lytina Winbush (great name) and Taylor Matthews to the Programming, Support, and Initiatives Fund Committee. Zach Barrileau and Laura Gedicke went to the Organizational Relief Fund Committee.
Resume of Laura Boggs
8:49 p.m. - Laura Boggs runs through her entire high school resume, including joining a sorority and Tiger Athletic Foundation, as well as Christ the King Catholic Center. I feel like I know this girl’s life story, as President Robertson’s ultimate seller feels she must tell us everything about her. She runs six or seven different things, as she runs for Executive Director.
Debate
10:29 p.m. - Instead of debating the issues, multiple people have expressed their desire to hurry up so the Senate won’t have to meet again.
10:31 p.m. - There’s a runoff between Hanna and Wishik. Sen. Megan Blanco turns to me and says, “Hanna? I think I just threw up a bit in my throat.”
And the winner is...
10:33 p.m. - Sen. Blanco was right. The winner is Parker Wishik.
Summer Planning Committee
10:46 p.m. - We’re done. Good riddance SG. I hope your summer retreat introduces you all to tact. Freeman out.
Read the original blog posts at The Daily Reveille...
Monday, April 21, 2008
LiveBlog: 2008 Installation of Student Government
6:40 p.m. - It’s time to induct. I’m sitting next to an entire flock of new senators ready for induction into the Student Senate. Behind me, local Boy Wonder Travis Andrews returns for his seat, being joined by many others tonight in the Magnolia Room of LSU Student Union. After the pledge of allegiance to no flag in the room, we’ve been called to order, the senators now circle around Speaker Pro Temp Ben Clark, as the senators take the Oath of Office for the LSU Senate.
Why do I still do this?
Chief Justice Mark Hill
6:44 p.m. - Chief Justice Hill reads the Code of Student Government, procedure after swearing in new senators.
In other news, around the room I can see many suits; even the Reveille reported looks stunning. But the tie-breaking vote in the pro-gun resolution to support Louisiana House Bill No. 199, a bill aimed at allowing concealed weapons on campus, is sitting, waiting to be sworn in as President of LSU Student Government.
Public Input
6:47 p.m. - Former senator Pfeiffer comes up to speak about upcoming elections for Summer Planning Committee, urging to be careful in selection.
Chris Brown6:49 p.m. - After not being counted the first time, Sen. Chris Brown comes in late to be sworn in by himself. I don’t see how a lack of promptness can allow for a solitary, dignified inauguration, as opposed to the primary cluster of 30 or so circling around Ben Clark and saying at once, “I, (state your name)…”
The Main Event
6:52 p.m. - Now is the time. Surrounded a quarter of the way by people in suits, we have officially sworn in President Colorado Robertson and Vice President Shannon Bates. Colorado does it in style, wearing a yellow polo, khaki pants and the same stupid hat on top of his dome. Good luck finding a picture of Louisiana State University’s Student Government President without his hat.
The Speech
6:54 p.m. - Opening with a joke about the Magnolia Room serving lunch and dinner that falls flat, President Robertson provides the program for tonight’s ceremonies. Tonight elections will be had for many different positions in SG, and it means I won’t make it to see The Daily Show tonight. Rats.
Anyway, “we are still moving forward to lay the foundation…” We didn’t make it fifteen minutes before that catchy phrase was found.
Justin Ledee
6:57 p.m. - Promptness is at a premium these days, as yet another senator shows up late to be inducted. Chief Justice Hill runs back into the room to barely whisper the Oath of Office to Sen. Ledee, who retreats to the middle of the room behind a column with lack of applause. Chief Justice Hill’s third time reading the Oath of Office sounds a lot like the medical warnings at the end of a car commercial. One can hear every word, but it’s too fast to catch.
Election for Speaker of the Senate7:00 p.m. - After pre-emptively calling for the nomination of Sen. Drew Prestridge, Sen. Amanda Gammon first opens the floor for nominations and immediately nominates Sen. Prestridge. Another senator in the back nominates Speaker Pro Temp Clark.
7:02 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Clark opens by explaining his background, a basic science senator who started from UCFY, and explains that communication with constituents is the most important facet of Student Government. He then ventures on how important senate retreats are and how important the work they do there matters,not just sitting around and “singing Kumbaya.” “The student body does not care about the day to day activities of Student Government. They need to know that things are getting done for them.”
Computer Trouble
7:09 p.m. - The adapter for my computer is failing, and my notoriously bad battery is about to die. Sen. Prestridge is giving his speech now, but I cannot continue much further. It would be morally presumptuous to ask the Senate for a laptop, and our news reporter clearly needs hers. Apologies for this lapse in estimation, and it will forfeit me dearly, because Sen. Prestridge just compared his “vision” for the senate to “a well-oiled machine.” Peace out for now, hopefully this won’t come back to haunt me.
I'll keep writing7:11 p.m. - I’ll keep going until this thing dies. You might not read this.
Sen. Prestridge just proposed a massive Student Government retreat, saying, “Wouldn’t it be great to have all of us come together and figure out how to fix the problems of the student body?”
Actually, you could just ask.
His words were ferocious, and we now go into questioning.
Questions
7:13 p.m. - Sen. Parker Wishik asks of both of the senators about the image of Student Government next semester. He also poses the problem of efficiency.
Sen. Prestridge agrees that outbursts were a problem, and the key lies in instructing the new senators on how to speak, invoking once again, his “well-oiled machine.”
Speaker Pro Temp Clark states essentially the same thing, asserting his desire to be more pro-active in calming the situation.
More questions7:17 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Clark reiterates his commitment to neutrality, vowing to abstain until the event of a tie.
Sen. Prestridge compares the job to his previous appointment as chair, saying he would guide the process but not influence the final decision. He pushes committees and leadership, but his role as speaker wouldn’t be one where he would tear off his biases.
7:19 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge gets a tricky question about a conversation involving more mentions of checking the Executive Branch than running the Senate. He says it’s essential that Senate work with the Executive Branch and also checks to see it does its job appropriately. Typical, he was a Vision candidate.
Speaker Pro Temp re-emphasizes his work with Colorado in the past, saying it’s more important to work together rather than focusing most of the time on checks and balances.
They agree
7:21 p.m. - Asked if they wanted to author legislation, the pair agreed that the Speaker doesn’t author legislation, but would talk with other senators to come together.
Relationships
7:22 p.m. - Sen. Megan Blanco asks about blatant disrespect, “high school clicky stuff” and asks how this could be corrected.
Sen. Prestridge that says it’s great to sit by college rather than by friends, and being professional is key, but “The Speaker isn’t here to babysit you.”
Speaker Pro Temp Clark cites a former retreat, in which friends hung out together, but outbursts will cut down.
It's finally dead7:24 p.m. - I have three minutes of battery left. It’s been a pleasure being here for an hour, as Anna Dearmon, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, shows up one hour late. She timed that well as I left. Good night from the Magnolia Room, read the Reveille tomorrow, and I think I have a AC-adapter-related Google search later. Peace.
Just think about it. For once.
He's BACK!!!!
8:00 p.m. - Just when you thought it was safe to conduct a meeting, Eric Freeman is back!
Debate is still going back and forth. In the time it’s taken me to secure a new laptop, I’ve been able to witness virtually every member of the Senate body voicing their endorsements for Sen. Drew Prestridge and Speaker Pro Temp Ben Clark. STOP WORRYING SO MUCH!!!!!!
I’ve got this.
Checks and balances8:02 p.m. - I’ve heard the words “checks and balances” way too much tonight. Half the senators emphasizing checks and balances are former Vision members untrustworthy of Colorado. People keep mentioning passion and loyalty, seldom mentioning specific things for the student body except for the subjective qualities of the candidates, one of which will lead them, and all of us.
Drew and Colorado
8:05 p.m. - Sen. Chandler brings up the perceived vision between Sen. Prestridge and President Robertson. He states, quite bluntly, “They said the same thing about Colorado and Cassie [Alsfeld], and SG ran great.” This caused me a little concern.
8:08 p.m. - A motion has been proposed to limit the debaters’ time to two minutes, which is the best possible way to show the new senators exactly how to run in SG. The motion passes, and a time limit is enforced. After talking for a minute, a new senator yields her minute left to former Sen. Ryan O’Malley, who pushes loudly and quickly for Sen. Prestridge.
Limp mic
8:12 p.m. - Pardon the lewdness, but the microphone at today’s podium looks like a sad swan, drooping over to one side. The sloping angle makes quieter folk disadvantaged, while the resident loudmouths of the senate dominate the discussion. Currently, Sen. Hanna is barraging the name of Speaker Pro Temp Clark in favor of Sen. Prestridge.
8:15 p.m. - Secretary Chambers receives yielded time from new senator Meghan Brown, who speaks about how organized Speaker Pro Temp Clark is in the office, and endorses him for the Senate.
8:16 p.m. - A feisty new business senator noticed the problems in Senate from tonight’s meeting: pointless reiteration of the same old lines from each senator’s support. She urges the senators to speak their minds while endorsing Speaker Pro Temp Clark.
In a surprise move...8:23 p.m. - The final vote goes to Speaker Ben Clark. I thought Drew had it.
President Robertson walks in to shake Speaker Clark’s hand before giving him the gavel. Sen. Prestridge looks crushed, but is nominated currently for Speaker Pro-Tempore against Sen. Brett Jackson.
The two candidates...
8:26 p.m. - As Speaker Clark looks on, the two people he defeated in elections for Speaker and Pro-Temp, no one wanted to ask a question. Sen. Wishik stands to ask one involved for the sake of having elections. It must be hard being recognized for Sen. Prestridge, as he just lost to the person currently recognizing him. The body hasn’t heard substantially from Sen. Jackson, but has heard much from Sen. Prestridge, and the body recognizes his qualifications.
Getting paid?8:31 p.m. - A business senator asks a question as to whether or not the members of the Executive Staff deserve to be paid. Sen. Prestridge and Sen. Jackson stand unified in their agreement, both saying they would like to see our Constitution changed so they can be paid, against 87% of the student body from last Spring.
Debate
8:34 p.m. - A motion to limit debate to two minutes was proposed again, and objection was called by Sen. Blanco. They then rose for votes, and more than half the room stood. This motion required a two-thirds vote after question is called, and the motion fails, giving half of this room who apparently doesn’t want to be here unlimited time at the podium. It’s obvious they don’t want to be here, but they should have thought of that before they wanted to run for Senate.
Our news writer
8:37 p.m. - Our news writer Natalie Messina moved from the front of the room to the back to concentrate away from the whispered noises around me. I miss her.
This blog
8:39 p.m. - I can see you, Sen. Andrews. If you don’t want to be here, stop reading my blog and get out.
Lackadaisical
8:40 p.m. - The senators look frustrated. They don’t look like they want to do any of this anymore, and just realized the magnitude of this sacrifice. I fear these senators will carry this nonchalance into the Atchafalaya Room when we convene next fall. But they definitely look bored, and thought this wouldn’t take as long. Senators continue to jump up on party lines, with the exception of Sen. Wishik supporting Sen. Prestridge. The senators are being talked to in SG language, which involves dying metaphors, much pretentious language and irrelevant words, according to Orwellian standards.
Congratulations...
8:52 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge.
Sit back
8:53 p.m. - Sit back, and enjoy the reads. Speaker Clark steps out, Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge takes over, and gets rid of his frustration of losing the Speaker’s seat by banging the gavel as loud as he can to move resolutions to committees.
And we're back
9:17 p.m. - After a five minute recess, we’re back in the Magnolia Room, ready to appoint committee members. The room looks emptier this time.
9:18 p.m. - I just spoke to President Robertson, and he informed me that his decision to support a resolution supporting Louisiana House Bill No. 199, allowing concealed weapons on campus. He said that after hearing each senator’s arguments for or against this resolution, and he said “my role as Speaker is to break a tie, and I felt this resolution best served the interests of the student body.”
9:19 p.m. - Thanks for asking them.
"Sen. Prestridge"9:21 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge asked a question about the docket, and Speaker Clark answered his question with an additional “Thank you Sen. Prestridge.” I know it’s habit, but that hurts. I feel for Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge.
Bad decision?
9:23 p.m. - Speaker Clark is busy pounding the gavel 28 times, referring different resolutions to the “Temporary Committee on Rules.” During this time, Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge has been approached by three different senators about different things. I will be monitoring how many people ask Prestridge a question in relation to Speaker Clark over the course of the semester.
Tension
9:27 p.m. - I can see President Robertson visible gesturing for Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge to talk to him for a moment. The president is waiting for the Speaker Pro Temp, and the pair walked out to review a document. The president is seated on the couch outside, while Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge goes into his phone to unlock information. Prestridge has his hands on his hips while he sways from side to side, while the president sits back with his arms crossed. I have no idea what this is about, but any body language specialist will notice these actions as confrontational and passive aggressive, while the senate rumor mill has it that the two don’t trust each other. I won’t say who, but if anyone paid attention during campaign season, a lot back and forth was said about both. Hopefully the student body won’t be the victim in this case.
Again.
Student Involvement9:31 p.m. - Students’ Rights and Welfare used to be a committee, but is now being absorbed under the new committee, Student Involvement. The Students’ Rights and Welfare committee used to be headed by former Sen. Whitney Breaux, but since her departure, the position was left vacant. President Robertson explains this in his changes to the Executive Charter, saying much more should be done in terms of accountability and partnerships when it comes to various committees.
SG got a webmaster
9:34 p.m. - Press secretary and webmaster positions are open in the Executive Staff. The pair will take over the combined job of the director of communications, which last session was current Sen. Wishik. The rest of this is a basic rundown of Executive Staff positions, as Secretary Chambers looks at me and silently blows a raspberry.
9:36 p.m. - The first question for President Robertson comes from Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge, who asks why Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Finance aren’t included in the Executive Department. President Robertson explains that these two positions will be regulated as regular office workers handling outside work of Student Government.
9:39 p.m. - Former Director of Communications Wishik asks about the change from director of communications to webmaster and press secretary. President Robertson asserts that this past year proved the job too big for one man to handle, and they felt it feasible to split the job into two.
9:40 p.m. - Sen. Palermo asks if the president will yield to a series of questions. President Robertson replies, “Um, sure…. I’m not used to being on this side.” This visibly upsets Speaker Pro Temp Prestridge. He remembers when former President Cassie Alsfeld didn’t care about the senate’s opinion, and will the president work with the senate. President Robertson replies, “If we can’t get someone out of Rules Committee or out of the body, I will return to my list of applicants.”
9:44 p.m. - Sen. Gammon asks about the effectiveness of the college councils, and President Robertson feels the student body has elected a capable body to serve the councils. The possibility of “at-large” members is brought up.
9:45 p.m. - I just realized Parliamentarian Anna Dearmon is in the back of the room, having moved from the front to the back with her laptop and cell phone. I guess it was to keep an eye on (read: scare the crap out of) the new senators. By the way, she explained to me that her lack of promptness earlier was because of a job interview. “Just in case, you know, well….”
Going to vote9:50 p.m. - The charter is enrolled with near-unanimity. The sole exception is Sen. Parker Wishik’s second abstention tonight.
Advisors
9:54 p.m. - Advisors Ray and Eldridge both emphasize the academic life before the senatorial life, saying the senators should focus first on their studies before the senate.
Speaker Pro "Tem" Prestridge
9:55 p.m. - The abbreviation is actually “Speaker Pro Tem.” I’ve misspelled that throughout this blog. Well, it started because former Speaker Pro Tem Jacqueline Delery resigned, and the subsequent election effectively made Sen. Ben Clark a Speaker Pro Temp. Tem is the correct shortening of tempore.
Petitions, Memorials, and other Communications
9:58 p.m. - Senators use PMC to say whatever they want, basically. Sen. Hanna congratulates Speaker Clark and Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge, as well as Sen. Jackson. She is the first to mention SG’s tradition of going to Pluckers after SG meetings.
9:59 p.m. - Sen. Chandler addressed a couple of comments about staying until 10:45 p.m., and he says “everyone has a voice. Each of you have to represent your own college, but if your college has to say something, say it. You have to voice what you heard from your constituents and what you feel.” The senator doesn’t approve of certain things that happened tonight, but oh well.
10:00 p.m. - Sen. Gammon urges senators to talk to their legislators.
10:01 p.m. - Sen. Remson remembers the days when SG met until 1:30 in the morning. He congratulates Speaker Clark and Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge. The senator says he heard from representatives about the uproar over the gun bill, saying the representatives heard about it in the Daily Reveille.
Ah, the Daily Reveille. Connecting SG senators to the legislators they claim to emulate.
PMCs continued10:04 p.m. - Sen. Sellers brings up Dustin “DC” Clemons, whom I knew as an incredible guy and a good spoken, kind-hearted man. He uses this to bring up the Phi Delta Theta event “Buy a Guy.” Proceeds from this will go to the Dustin “DC” Clemons Award, founded by his mother, but the uproar starts when Sellers says he, himself, is being auctioned off. He then turns to Speaker Pro Tem Prestridge and says, “I know you’ll be bidding.”
10:06 p.m. - Sen. Palermo reiterates Sen. Sellers’s “real name,” “Sassy Sellers.” He says that as chair of Housing, Infrastructure and Technology, he has been in contact with getting a better email system for students. The solution will involve a choice of the current email, Outlook email or Gmail. He also said, in regards to certain comments, cited certain senators who resigned because they didn’t feel they had a chance to speak. He urges the senators to participate actively in the body, and hopes next year will be a great one.
10:08 p.m. - Sen. Sellers informs the new senators that, due to the departure of former President Alsfeld and former Sen. Ryan O’Malley, he is the only sassy one left and is now accepting applications to fill positions in his sassy caucus. I know. I know.
10:10 p.m. - Sen. Remson mentions former Vice President Josh King’s initiative to turn the Ole Miss game into a Rivalry Game, and meetings will be held to discuss the new name of the rivalry.
Adjourn10:12 p.m. - The motion to adjourn has been heard, and we’re out. Good night, people!
Read the original blog posts at The Daily Reveille...
Read more...
Robertson's vote for on-campus weapons a bad move
Editorial Board Staff Column
President-elect Colorado Robertson's final vote as speaker of the Student Government Senate could taint whatever mark he will leave when his days are done at the University.
After hours of debate stretching between two Student Senate meetings, Robertson cast the tie-breaking vote in support of a resolution supporting Louisiana House Bill No. 199. If passed, the state bill could allow people with concealed weapon permits to bring their guns on campus.
A previous resolution sparked the debate Wednesday night. Sen. Drew Prestridge led the fight for his resolution opposing the House bill, but it was voted down 9 to 14 after debate Thursday. With barely a quorum present - half of the Senate plus one, the Senate's required attendance to conduct business - the Senate split voting on the supporting resolution, 11 to 11.
This board strongly opposes any type of gun on campus, and we are disappointed in Robertson's vote.
On the flip side, this board congratulates outgoing SG President Cassie Alsfeld's refusal to sign the bill.
As this board has said before, college campuses around the country face a serious dilemma from proponents of the Second Amendment, as well as those of us actively pursuing a rational solution to the crisis affecting America's institutions of higher education.
The arguments in favor of this legislation were the same arguments any Second-Amendment-loving American will put forward when asked to defend the individual right to bear arms.
But the phrase "law-abiding citizens" is thrown around so casually that it is easy to forget everyone is technically a law-abiding citizen until the split-second they decide to break the law - and for those of us in the classroom, a split-second is not enough time to react.
Hypothetical scenarios, then, are drawn to distinguish what would happen if someone with a gun ran into a classroom.
Here's one for the supporters: if this bill passes, how many people in that room will pick that moment to prove their heroism all at once?
How many bullets will it take before you're satisfied?
President-elect Robertson should be ashamed now that his Senate legacy has been established.
Originally published in The Daily Reveille...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
LiveBlog: 4/17 LSU Student Government Senate Meeting
Lateness never helps 7:17 p.m. - Sen. Kyle Chandler, after a heated debate last night with the pro-gun posse, brings up laws from the U.S. Constitution, including the Second Amendment. 7:18 p.m. - Sen. Avery says, “Do you think someone would go through background checks, psychological evaluations and the like would prevent someone from killing themselves?” Sen. Chandler replies they’re nothing stopping them from shooting themselves in the head later. 7:19 p.m. - Sen. Juneja tries to make a point about the whole community, but Sen. Chandler replies that we’re only talking about college kids. Sen. Juneja brings up the two slain Indian students from last semester, and Sen. Chandler continues to talk about students potentially killing themselves if they had a gun with them on campus. He then appears a little misguided with his insinuation that girls are less likely to own a gun, arousing arrogant giggling throughout the room. 7:23 p.m. - The senators are going back and forth on a simple point. We’re talking in hypotheticals, about scenarios and statistics on whether or not what could happen could happen. What gets lost in this song and dance are two fundamental facts: More guns make areas less safe, and the Louisiana House of Representatives doesn’t give two cents about the opinion of the LSU Student Government Senate. Whether or not SG says its opinion, and whichever it is, will not influence the decision of the final vote, regardless of how long it takes to debate this irrelevant resolution. Debate 7:27 p.m. - Sen. Remson comes up to say he won’t talk about hypotheticals. He brings up a good point about the nature of credibility when it comes to having a Driver’s License in court. “It’s a privilege that Driver’s License owners have that their word is respected over someone who has never been to the DMV.” He then says the same is in effect for concealed gun license owners, and their consequence for breaking the law will be greater for owning the training and the privilege of a concealed gun permit. He says he feels more safe if he knows someone has a concealed permit in the class room because that man will be protecting someone else’s life in the event of an attack. The Law School helps 7:34 p.m. - Anna Dearmon steps up to explain the difference between “Point of Information” and “Point of Clarification.” Information is a question, clarification is an answer. Sen. Sellers 7:35 p.m. - Sen. Sellers argues against the House Bill. “You can’t really group what happens at [Edward Gay] Apartments and something like Virginia Tech. This isn’t conducive to learning. This is not the solution to our safety issue.” He then provides an allegory about a girl being stopped at night, dropping her I.D. and getting her head blown off. Sen. Juneja brings up a statistic about the lack of gratuitous fatalities from concealed gun holders. Sen. Sellers says he went a little out of line. After another question, he says the law would make the campus less vulnerable to attack. Sen. Graham asks how Sen. Sellers would defend himself against someone who tried to intrude in his apartment on campus with a gun. Sen. Sellers says he doesn’t know, but the law is still a bad thing. I admire Sen. Sellers’s resolve. He repeats that this is not conducive to learning. He brings up the story of his cousin and got a tazer. He said, “She’ll probably taze anyone that stands behind her.” 7:54 p.m. - Sen. Graham is 50-50 when it comes to guns on campus. He feels the campus is safe, but “the people that have the permits don’t feel safe.” This is faulty logic. The people with the guns, WITH THE GUNS, don’t feel safe. He doesn’t feel he needs to brings guns onto campus, but he wishes that to happen to the students sitting in the gallery, and it feels it would help if given any emergency. Sen. Chandler asks if it makes the campus uncomfortable, should the bill be passed? He brings up a hypothetical in which 23,000 people don’t want guns on campus, but 1,000 do, should we pass the bill. Sen. Graham speaks about defending their Second Amendment rights. Sen. Chandler continues about the only state, Utah, with the law currently in place, and wonders whether or not, if this bill gained speed and was passed in multiple states, would it lead to a rise in killings? Other states are considering these in their legislatures, but the policies in particular Universities are in place for a reason. Sen. Chandler then asks if more people have guns on campus, would it lead to an increase in killings. Sen. Graham replies no, but can’t justify the answer. Another senator looks at the data in the past showing an increase in violence on campus. I think I have the solution. Why don’t we all bring guns to the campus and shoot it out like men? Doesn’t that seem reasonable?!?!? Sen. Chandler repeats his question, and Sen. Graham says no, but gains applause with his simplicity. Sickening. Closing comments 8:02 p.m. - People are expecting me to write down something that could have been interpreted for a metaphor for something sleazy. I won’t do it, because half the Senate is reading the blog. 8:03 p.m. - She says, “we need to teach, we need to learn, and we don’t need guns. We’re against having them on campus. We feel campus should be a place for education. To bring up a point when I got laughed at in the gallery, and I said what if I knew someone had a gun, and I snatched it from him, and I was laughed at for that.” She replies to the gun lobby as the students “to my left.” She thanks the students for coming because, “it’s so rare that we get students who care this much to come.” The presence of five concerned students at SG arouses applause, while clearing up the air about the question of SG’s irrelevance. The case is closed. The students don’t care. 8:09 p.m. - I means we hate guns, No means we like guns. Roll call vote. Almost half of the Senate is missing. 8:13 p.m. - By a vote of 9-14, the bill fails. The next bill is to support the same House bill. 8:14 p.m. - “Feeling safe isn’t the same as being safe. If you don’t like weapons, you need to move to another country, because this is America and we have a right to defend ourselves.” Woo-hoo America. Yee-haw! 8:17 p.m. - Darrell Ray, adviser to Student Government, finally brings up the point that debate over whether or not guns would be allowed in resident halls is irrelevant, as there is no official from LSU Residential Life. 8:18 p.m. - Sen. Brinks says that voting nay on both of these bills wouldn’t stop the students from being able to call their legislatures and make their voices heard. Roll call vote 8:20 p.m. - After a vote to support the House bill, the vote is an 11 to 11 tie. Speaker Robertson uses his tiebreaker vote to vote I, and the bill is passed. I need a minute. SG just said, we want guns on campus. 8:32 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge just made a motion to rescind the bill, and debate will commence about whether or not to rescind today’s bill supporting concealed weapons on campus. He brings up both votes, 9-14 in opposition of the House bill, 11-11 in favor. 8:33 p.m. - Sen. Sellers respects the resolutions of this body, and asks that we make clear the 11-11 vote was noted. A rescinding vote requires 2/3 passage of the Senate body. 8:34 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Clark says “we’ve spent three hours on this vote.” It’s actually two, but he keeps going by saying a majority was reached, and we should respect the vote. 8:35 p.m. - Sen. Blanco can’t believe we passed this bill. By we, I don’t mean the student body, I mean SG. “How can you tell the student body this is what they want? We don’t know. Please think about what you’re about to do.” 8:36 p.m. - Sen. Juneja doesn’t care about the time of debate, rather the substance of the bill. He says we should decline both, but the people he’s talked to wanted this bill. He says they did vote, and they should have thought to vote. 8:37 p.m. - Sen. Remson congratulates the body on giving it a story to tell. He says that this discussion has become bigger than we thought. “The majority ruled on this discussion. I don’t think it was a bad thing that this was passed. We went to debate and we got answers. It has a decided voice on it, and people will be listening now. This is why I’m proud to call myself an American. I think it shows the process works.” The process just silenced the student body with a barely present quorum and the voices of the students completely blocked out. 8:40 p.m. - Sen. Bryant says it was 11 to 11, and the speaker is the senator. He had a voice, and it was 12 to 11. That’s a majority. 8:41 p.m. - Sen. Chandler thinks the voice of the majority was heard. But he talked to his constituents, and if the senate body didn’t, they should rescind this bill. “It hurts LSU’s name if we send this bill without asking the students.” 8:41 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge thinks rescinding is the right thing to do. “If we send this bill to the House, they should see it was 11 to 11, and they will know it was this close.” The vote 8:42 p.m. - With Sen. Juneja abstaining, the vote to rescind fails overwhelmingly, and SG smears the name of the University with this resolution.
7:14 p.m. - Sorry for my lateness, but I tried to get here sooner. What fun it is to make my way around the Law School for the first time. We are in room W230 of the Law School, and I have to be a little frank. For the first time, Natalie Messina isn’t my compatriot in representing the Reveille tonight, but I am joined by Daniel McBride, resident bad man of the Reveille. I don’t think he approves. He had to sit, however, behind the same pro-gun people from last night’s session, making me wonder what they have on them right now, or more importantly, what would happen if they get their way.
Sen. Chandler
Sen. Blanco brings up a point of clarification about girls owning guns as well, and Sen. Sellers asserts that he is a jumpy individual.
7:43 p.m. - Sen. Brinks says we don’t have to pass anything tomorrow. “Whatever we send to the State, it’ll be a powerful tool.” He’ll assume the students will be automatically for or against. “We don’t have to vote for either of these bills until we can assure we’re representing our constituents well.” Well said. The House doesn’t care anyway.
Sen. Chandler continued
7:47 p.m. - Sen. Chandler correctly says that LSU isn’t just a University, but a day care, high school and middle school, and we need to be thinking about them. He says that we need to be thinking about representing the whole school, and most of the people he’s talked to and they all hate this bill. Sen. Boyd asks him if he talked to anyone who wanted to get a permit, and Sen. Chandler told him no, but Sen. Boyd put words in his mouth to get him to say, “Because they don’t matter. OK,” and Sen. Boyd sits back down.
Sen. Juneja
7:51 p.m. - Sen. Juneja is misguided in his words, as he says he has met people who are good people who happen to own concealed weapons permits. He talks about a girl who “got nauseous” when they suggested the bill to them, but the senator asked her whether or not “she got sick when she went to bars or clubs or other places off campus.” Bars and clubs are off campus, but we’re talking about the University. The University is not an adequate place for guns, as I type next to the increasingly nervous gun lobby.
Sen. Graham
Read the original blog posts at The Daily Reveille...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
LiveBlog: 4/16 LSU Student Government Senate Meeting
6:31 p.m. - We have a packed house tonight! Eric W. Freeman, Jr., ready to live blog the stuffing out of this popsicle stand. The Atchafalaya Room is hot with anticipation as tonight is sure to be tasty. I mean, tastee. On a separate form, the list of all 50 Flagship Universities in America is displayed with a list of what the average student paid in tuition and fees for the 2007-08 Academic Year. LSU ranks fifth from the bottom with $4,543. On the other side, a list of comparison of tuition and fees combined with State General Appropriations per student ranks LSU fourth from the bottom, just ahead of U. of Alabama at Birmingham, U. of So. Mississippi and West Virginia. He cites computers that need to be replaced, taking examples from the IT Master Plan. He brings up a critical note, as a student on TOPS in 1987-88 paid $1,727 in fees, where a student today on TOPS pays $1,329. Intriguing. The disconnect has to be pinned down either on LSU or TOPS. Questions 6:49 p.m. - Sen. Kelli Eason brings up a resolution the Senate wrote which would gradually phase in the proposed tuition increase instead of “Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am,” and Vice Chancellor Baudin, unintentionally showing his disconnect with the student body, replies, “We haven’t talked about it amongst ourselves yet.” 6:51 p.m. - Sen. Sanjay Juneja works with the tour guides, and he’s told to tell how good our faculty to student ratio is, saying it’s higher than most schools in the SEC. Vice Chancellor Baudin says it’s at either 21 to 1 or 22 to 1, but ideally, it’d be 18 to 1. 6:52 p.m. - Another question is brought up about a possible tuition increase being too much for some students who are already on the brink of not being able to pay for school, and the vice chancellor replies that he will talk about that later. 6:53 p.m. - Sen. Megan Blanco asks a great question. The justification for the tuition increase is the dropping number of enrollment. She asks whether or not, if enrollment goes up, the tuition increase would be sustained. A simple answer: “No.” Three weeks ago, a student elected to the Senate was pulled into OJA for cheating on an exam, and the charging officer said “Well, you sound innocent, but I still have to punish you.” The senator got disciplinary warning for the remainder of her LSU tenure. OJA also gave disciplinary warning, suspension and a 1000-word essay about why trespassing is wrong, for a group of people hanging out on the REC. Another case came up about plagiarism, or lack thereof, and a student was deducted three points for an exam grade for providing citations in a paper. The President of the DKE fraternity was placed on academic probation. He was pulled into the OJA Office and told if he didn’t admit to hazing, he wouldn’t graduate. Some calls to the chancellor changed his fate. Then he brings up his case. He brings up accusations, from OJA and not local authorities, of phone misbehavior, an anger management problem, a sexual harassment case and beating his child with a hairbrush, all of which weren’t true. His GPA before dealing with OJA was 3.1, but after all of his dealings, he now has a 2.04. His chances for graduate school have gone from possible to impossible because of OJA. He comes to us tonight for the students. Higher-ups claim that the LSU Code of Conduct supersedes federal, state and local law. This isn’t the case. His case will be heard in the United States Federal Courthouse, with a 500-page appeal sent to the Vice Chancellor, who allegedly hasn’t returned said appeal to the hearing panel. He asks the students to look up books on due process at public institutions. He comes to us tonight to ask for help. He says, “Eric Norman says LSU law is above state and local law.” This is wrong. “You do not leave your constitutional rights at the door when you attend LSU.” He cites the U.S. Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and he alleges, “Dr. Norman is trying to empower himself at the expense of the students.” After calling time, Secretary Chambers calls time, but Colorado Robertson lets him finish. “No other student should have to endure the problems that I’ve dealt with from OJA over the past seventeen months.” Earth Day 7:17 p.m. - Earth Day Festival will be on the Parade Grounds this Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. But they’re here to ask SG for help with recognition. The 459 Commons has a myriad of environmentally friendly things with their lighting and less waste. Groovin' on the Grounds LSU in France 7:24 p.m. - A representative of the French Department pushes for his students to go to France every year. He talks, in classic Parisian, about making a difference, saying that 60 or so students have been to France because of a scholarship, and he says that this was “a very small amount.” He wraps it up by mentioning the increasing global economy and living in a place as unique as Louisiana necessitates a search for insights into other people’s cultures. “Help them go to France.” Ross Nugent 7:26 p.m. - Ross is here to support the rights of students to carry guns on campus, saying “if a student earns a concealed gun permit, the state of Louisiana deems that you are able to carry a gun on campus.” He says he always feels safe on campus, but he feels vulnerable. He cites his former gig with KLSU, and Hodges is empty at that time. He knows there are always police on campus, but it’s nerve wracking. He wants to bring a gun on campus without ever having anything done to him. It’s people like him that necessitate Aspirin. But there’s more later tonight, because a bill is up. He also doesn’t know any of the qualifications for gaining a permit. Ugh. More gun nuts 7:30 p.m. - More people supporting this ludicrous bill. Can the madness end at all? Four straight people have argued for this bill. They like their guns, they want to shoot their guns, and they want to bring them on campus. I swear, not even joking, if this bill gets passed, I’m dropping out of LSU. I’m not playing. I’m not going to be on a campus where I know guns are present. I’m sorry, but the University should never, EVER, ALLOW GUNS ON CAMPUS. I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU WANT. DON’T BRING YOUR F#$%ING GUN TO SCHOOL! Have you ever lost respect for five strangers at once? SCCC 7:36 p.m. - The leader of this little group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (not recognized as official) vocalizes his support. They have 68 members on campus. Out of 32,000. Great. By great, I mean no. Aaron Phipps 7:37 p.m. - My former roommate, the President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, pushes his bill tonight which would give $1183.00 to help defray the costs of hosting the 2008 Alpha Phi Alpha Showcase. This shouldn’t be debated or questioned at all. This is a great cause which would help high schoolers around the city show their stuff for charity. 7:39 p.m. - UCFY President Martina reads off a long list of things she’s done. There’s too many to list here. An interesting point comes up. She asks how many of the senators will still be in office in the fall, and half the senators hands go up. 7:43 p.m. - Today was Hokie Day, and I’m blogging this in my maroon shirt to remember the tragedy of a year ago. He talked to people at Virginia Tech who expressed their thanks. One organization overlooked in SG is Students on Target, and he says “They set the bar Saturday night.” United as one we were that night. It was amazing. “Saturday made me feel happy to be a part of SG to help put that on, and to be a part of the LSU community.” Hats off to Micaela. That was incredible. 7:47 p.m. - Rob Dowie comes up and says that the Election Board has no authority to rule on complaints, but this will go to Trial Court and University Court. He ruled that in the case of Noel v. Robertson/Bates, the court can’t review the complaints listed in The Daily Reveille yesterday, because the complaints were filed more than 48 hours after the announcement of the election. There is an appeal, but the timeline for the court will be tonight. University Court Chief Justice Mark Hill tried to….. The fire alarm just went off. No lie. It’s loud. Back from the fire 8:00 p.m. - Chief Justice Hill is back, asking people not to go to the meetings of the judiciary, as “it would be unethical.” The appeal will be heard tonight. A few of the phone calls he’s had about the appeal have to do with the “writ of certiorari.” The plaintiff and defendant tell why the case should be heard, and the justices decide whether or not the case will be heard. Swearing in of runoff winners will be addressed later Monday. The new Clerk of Court is announced as Sean Horridge. He thanks Natalie Messina and Tiger TV for their excellent coverage and “honest journalism.” “A lot of back and forth has happened, and there is a judicial branch for a reason. They hear complaints, so respect the process and the judges.” Sen. Prestridge brings up the point that no senators were in the runoff process, and are eligible for swearing in. 8:05 p.m. - Parker Wishik thanks the Senate for an excellent term. 8:06 p.m. - Director of Academics plugs the Center for Academic Success’s Academic Workshop. CATS stands for Comprehensive Academic Tracking System, and it’s a pilot system for problems with advising and scheduling. The history comes from the University of Florida for tracking students on the LSU Web site. There is a recommended degree path for each semester so students know what classes to take and when. CATS puts input from all four years into one easy, plannable college experience. “It’s going to take some time to figure out what problems they will solve.” The administration doesn’t know the results or what the program will do, but at least they’re optimistic. 8:14 p.m. - The writers of the bill passed last week about the W policy are commended by Liz Dunn. Sen. Prestridge asks her whether or not she knows about a new major program, which she knows nothing about. Seemed like piling on, as both teams are obviously trying to make each other look bad. This is a disgrace. Madeleine Peters 8:22 p.m. - The leader of the Freshman Leadership Council brings up, literally, thousands of dollars raised for multiple different causes, adding, “Congratulations on the year, and anything can happen in the future.” She did well. College Council Babysitter 8:26 p.m. - An example of a student contemplating suicide sent an email to the Executive Staff about Health Center information, which was given, and later the student emailed and thanked the staff. “SG does a lot of great things for the students.” Student Government Finance Report 8:28 p.m. - A rundown of the general SG accounts is given. Beginning and current balances are shown, but the current Initiatives Account balance has to be edited to show a $35,172.76 allocation from last week. A new Sponsorship Account is shown, displaying $38,666.63 from corporate sponsors. No details about how this money was spent, including things that have already happened. Back to Judicial Stuff 8:32 p.m. - The University Court is going to determine whether or not to hear the case tonight. Sen. Prestridge asks to clarify, gets yelled at by Anna Dearmon to stand up, and Chief Justice Hill says he will hear whether or not to hear the case tonight. Vice President Josh King 8:34 p.m. - Textbook Exchange Software is an Ebay for textbooks, which Dixon McMakin originally proposed but Josh King got done. It will be available next week. We will be using money earned from Ruckus music to sustain the campus map for the next 10 years. They’re coming along on the Ole Miss rivalry, as way too many name submissions were made. The Senate is asked to vote on their favorite name for the rivalry game. An application was sent to PSIF for $75,000 from Paid Initiatives Account, which has an obscene amount of money. The plans are to spend it for a “Groovin” style concert. Josh King looks, sounds, and acts like a future politician. And not in a bad way. He looks like the kind of guy that can get things done. He says of the 30 initiatives on their campaign platform, they created 110 initiatives and passed them all, including the original 30. “It’s been an honor working with the staff. This University is a great avenue for students who want to affect it. You do not need a title to get things done.” He challenges the new senators to write bills in this chamber that will affect the student body and make their lives easier. President Cassie Alsfeld 8:41 p.m. - “Hello all.” She mentions her Sesquicentennial Committee membership, as LSU is about to turn 150, and she needs two freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and grad students to serve on the committee about to be formed. She asks the Senate for recommendations as to who would be good for this. I was thinking about starting a “moving forward” count, and we’ve got one. Wait, two. “It feels good to win, but it feels better to work hard for the friends and people around you for your goal.” She hasn’t missed a Senate meeting in four years, as she served as UCFY Senator and later Manship School of Mass Communication before becoming SG President. “We should be the people of service and integrity that we are called to be. I hope you’re here to truly serve the students. This week was a prime example.” She cites Groovin’ on the Grounds’ success. “We truly promoted Students on Target’s message of ‘a good time not wasted.’” She’s also proud of several things, like our communication and maintaining open communication, FLC’s many accomplishments, transportation, creating an accessible football ticket system, outstanding programming, Safety Week and, on a much larger scale, education at LSU. As a senator, she wrote the resolution to revise the Student Code of Conduct and added more students to the committee. “Remember why you’re doing this. This is much bigger than ourselves.” She closes with a quote about clouds and the sky, and encourages the body to be proactive. She leaves to a standing ovation, and her legacy will not soon be forgotten. 8:56 p.m. - Sen. Remson thanks the committee of Academics, Athletics and Administration for all of their hard work over the course of the semester. 8:57 p.m. - Sen. O’Malley, chair of the Finance Committee, reports on his bills which will be up for consideration later tonight, and he enjoyed his time this semester and thanks the body. He introduces Sen. Prestridge. 8:58 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge, chair of Governmental Relations, compares his committee to “The little committee that could.” He thanks his vice chair, Sen. Blanco, and thanks the chamber. 8:59 p.m. - Sen. Palermo, chair of Housing, Infrastructure & Technology Committee, brings up his bills about parking, and the summer planning committee should be taking it over. 9:00 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp Ben Clark, chair of Rules Committee, didn’t meet but served as temporary chair of Students’ Rights and Welfare, formerly held by Whitney Breaux. He thanks the chamber. 9:18 p.m. - Sen. Brett Jackson wrote a bill which would allocate $4,000 to the Department of French Studies to help defray the costs of hosting “Athletica: A Tribute to Sport,” a charitable fashion show. Sen. Juneja speaks about how this will affect Baton Rouge as a whole, as the Advocate is getting involved, “providing a good opportunity to get the community together.” 9:19 p.m. - Sen. Blanco inquires about tickets, and the price cited by Sen. Juneja as $7, although this is an optional donation for the charity. This is only a donation basis, but the bill is still up. Sen. Allen asks for any scholarships this would provide, but one scholarship of $1,000 will win this event. 9:24 p.m. - Sen. Blanco comes up for debate, and says she thinks this is more like a party, as there is food, promotion, lights and other things, from the students to buy food. She has a reasonable request, but looks somewhat embarassed. 9:26 p.m. - “Fashion is one third of the French economy as Sen. O’Malley said.” Sen. Jackson reiterates this is for charity and to raise awareness. This is also for local boutiques and owned by LSU graduates. 9:27 p.m. - With seven abstentions, the yays have it, and it passes. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity 9:28 p.m. - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will be hosting a Talent Showcase to raise money for college application waivers for underprivileged high school students. Aaron Phipps gives a little of the history, as Alpha Phi Alpha has been on LSU campus for more than 30 years. He asks for $1,587 to put on the showcase, and will be asking for money at the showcase to give to local area Baton Rouge high schoolers. 9:32 p.m. - Sen. Palermo steps up to be on for debate, but he moves to amend the bill so the money comes out of the Initiatives Account. 9:34 p.m. - Speaker Pro Temp urges favorable passage, and as seven abstentions go forward, but the bill passes. The Student Code of Conduct 9:36 p.m. - Eric Norman cites that our Code of Conduct is antiquated. The last Dean of Students “made changes, formed a committee that will rubber stamp it all.” He got a committee to go through the Code of Conduct, line by line, and it was finished on December 4. He made the document “smaller and user friendly, because students will skip to areas they need to know.” He says that last year, 1,264 violations were made, most of which came from freshmen, because they didn’t know the policy. He hopes to have this adopted and implemented before orientation this summer. Pardon me, but he looks like a game show host. Sounds like it too. He seriously should be calling basketball games. 9:41 p.m. - The members of SCCC in the back — who want the guns — look pissed. They’ve looked pissed for a while. 9:42 p.m. - Norman describes the guidelines of a hearing panel and describes appeals processes. “It’s a three stage process, and that’s required by law … we go above and beyond what is required by far.” I wonder what that means. He’s assuming the process is understood by the student body right now. Otherwise, if the students don’t know, they won’t pursue the means to asking him about the Code. He brings up the fact that he’s usually swimming, running or biking, and laughs nervously, to no response and dead silence from the chamber. 9:46 p.m. - Sen. Prestridge asks if he can clarify some of the things Patrick Esfeller mentioned before, and he says that the Code doesn’t supersede the Constitution. “I’m here to ensure the health and safety of the student body.” Sen. Prestridge then asks about whether or not hearsay is admittable in a case, and Norman says it was always in place, just spelled out. He puts a certain weight on what people heard whether or not they saw it.” 9:49 p.m. - Sen. Eason brings up the story of her sister who was brought up for cheating, and the teacher in question noticed her error, but her sister was punished anyway. Norman replies that whenever a professor questions the integrity of a student, they have to bring it to OJA. He’s trying to make jokes during talk about the Code of Conduct. Wow. 9:51 p.m. - He’s speaking so fast in so much lawyer terminology that I can’t keep up. Eason retorts that she knew of her right to appeal, but was strongly advised not to. Norman points her to K.C. White and Eric Monday, but evidentially it will end with the Chancellor. Norman is very transparent. He said it himself. Sen. Eason rolls her eyes slightly as she sits back down. 9:54 p.m. - Sen. Collens brings up an excellent question about how the faculty outnumber the students on the hearing panel. Norman says this was the source of great debate, and this was a compromise. 9:55 p.m. - Sen. Graham asks a question about the removal of “innocent until proven guilty” in lieu of a 17-word phrase I didn’t catch. This leads Norman to joke again, saying “I don’t like legalistic language. Heh heh heh.” The question of guilt comes up, as Norman states guilt as a feeling. The senator brings up the fact that the word ‘guilt’ applies in every legal document since the beginning of time, and asks whether or not this should be used in a court. Norman retorts, “We’re not a court. We’re a hearing panel.” Sen. Eliot 10:01 p.m. - I can see you. Quit reading the blog and pay attention. 10:02 p.m. - Sen. Graham asks if Norman is asking to pass a document that “has not been finalized legally and will change later.” Norman says the panel will always change. Sen. Graham asks whether or not the number of students and faculty would change, and Norman replies, “I would if I had students that would show. Heh heh heh.” 10:05 p.m. - Sen. Gammon just updated her Facebook status about enjoying the debate. Obviously, she’s not enjoying it IF SHE’S ON FACEBOOK! Still Even More Code 10:07 p.m. - I haven’t eaten since noon. I’m doing this for you. 10:09 p.m. - Sen. Graham zings Norman with a comment about settling cases before graduation, getting Norman to stutter a bit before saying he’ll look into it. 10:11 p.m. - During debate, Sen. Graham recommends it be tabled and sent back to committee, and points out specific examples of the hearing panel being carried out like a courthouse. Anna Dearmon, quite rudely with a snotty attitude coming from her lips, yells at Sen. Graham about procedural differences between postponing and tabling this bill. The bill is sufficiently postponed until the end of unfinished business, which means it will be brought up in tomorrow’s session. Guns 10:16 p.m. - This is a resolution in opposition of the bill which would allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus. Sen. Prestridge speaks eloquently about the opposition, as the students they asked felt queasy about the prospect of guns on campus. For the first time in my opinion, Sen. Prestridge feels the time has not come, as putting more guns on college campuses would be very dangerous. 10:19 p.m. - Sen. Blanco says that students would be scared of being on campus with a gun. She says “what if someone just takes the gun from anyone?”as the little cult group in the back smiles smugly. Sen. Prestridge apologizes for the fact that this arises humor for the people in the back, but this is very serious issue. Gun debate 10:22 p.m. - Sen. Remson says that this House bill depends on what the students say about it. He says, “how we feel on this matter will greatly influence the decision in the House chamber.” He says that there are many people in this body that have this license, and will ask questions about how to give this out. So many limitations and background checks are required before the license is given out. “The right to get this license isn’t just going to go to some Joe Blow student.” 10:24 p.m. - Former Sen. Matt McEntire, reading the blog, just updated his Facebook.com status to ask if I still check status updates. Yes, I do. 10:24 p.m. - Sen. Allen asks a question about how to carry the license, and Sen. Remson replies LSUPD will be enforcing this strictly. She reiterates how quickly it would be to pick out a gun and start shooting, which makes the cult smile and laugh, begging to be able to speak, and Sen. Remson asks the body to simply ask questions and look into every aspect of this bill. 10:27 p.m. - Eric Norman asks a hypothetical from the back about having a concealed carry license, then suffers from depression and decides to start taking people out. Sen. Remson doesn’t have an answer. Sen. Prestridge asks that the students “stay on target with their questions.” 10:29 p.m. - Now, senators are just shouting Robert’s Rules or Order terms out there. “abstain” “motion” “move” It’s nutty. 10:29 p.m. - Without Colorado here and Speaker Pro Temp Clark running the meeting, the chamber has fallen into disarray. Clark tried to speak, Anna Dearmon interrupted him, and my head just spun. 10:31 p.m. - Sen. O’Malley has never owned a gun, but he feels people who have concealed carry permits won’t start shooting up a classroom, which makes the cult applaud fiercely. He is in support of the House bill and against this resolution to oppose it. 10:34 p.m. - Sen. Juneja says the same thing, but he says that “people who know there are guns on campus will be less inclined to do deviant behavior.” Actually, studies have shown the opposite. More guns, concealed or not, lead to more murders. How anyone is referring to bringing a gun on campus as a “positive thing” makes me sick. 10:36 p.m. - Sen. Avery echoes this sentiment. Another sickening member of the Senate. “If they’re going to kill you, they’re going to kill you. If something like Virginia Tech of something like across town happened at LSU, I don’t want to be quivering under my desk waiting to die. I own a weapon.” I’m getting so tired of hearing about “law-abiding Americans exercising their constitutional rights.” I’ll stop right there. “law-abiding Americans” are only such until the second before they commit a crime, and a second isn’t quick enough to stop that former “law-abiding American.” Sen. Sellers asks him what he would do if he saw someone with a gun in their backpack, he says he would ask the person why they had a gun. Really?!?!? 10:43 p.m. - The Senate must adjourn at 10:45 p.m. until tomorrow night because of an agreement with the Chancellor’s Office and The Union. A poll is being taken of whether or not the body can meet tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. because it would suck to meet on Friday night and it has to be this week. See you tomorrow night!
Suits
6:33 p.m. - A lot of suits are here tonight. Not just apparel from the senators, but official looking guys ready to dispense some knowledge on the body. I’m not really sure what to expect tonight, but I’ve been told to expect a lot.
Vice Chancellor Baudin
6:34 p.m. - After a motion to extend the speaker’s time, Vice Chancellor Jerry Baudin, of Finance and Administrative Services, lays out exactly how $18.5 million was spent to fund faculty, information, library materials and campus services. Essentially, the body has been given a plan of how LSU spends its revenue. He mentions the primary goal of the Flagship Agenda is to increase and sustain the merit pay of the faculty, increasing retainment and attracting prospective teachers and professors. He asks the State to put up the $18.5 million to fund LSU’s progress, while talks of a bill that would increase tuition by 5%, meaning $5.0 million. Most of this would go to fund faculty merit salaries. He calls the degree achieved from LSU “a bargain in comparison to what the State gives us.”
6:56 p.m. - Eric Monday just leered over my shoulder to hand something to the vice chancellor, but because of my place in the room, he was able to read the comments of this blog before they went in. I caught him sneaking a peek with my peripheral vision and saw him reading my blog. Great.
Blueprint LSU
6:58 p.m. - Blueprint LSU shows up to recruit members. They run strictly on volunteers, working on things like coastal restoration and higher education. It costs nothing — go to the web site at blueprintlouisiana.org. It’s about everyone coming together around the state to tackle key issues. Continue to be involved.
Patrick Esfeller
7:00 p.m. - I remember when the last time he was here, but tonight, it’s very different. He looks pissed, as he begins to talk about when he came to the Senate a couple of weeks ago. He mentions his battle with the Office of Judicial Affairs, listing the number of complaints and grievances OJA has filed against him. He was the victim of identity theft by a former member of the Senate body, and blatantly been accused of false charges.
7:42 p.m. - He extends her time by one minute, but talks faster than I can hear, and departs to a rousing ovation.
Sen. Andrew Remson
7:46 p.m. - Matt McEntire and Whitney Breaux aren’t here anymore.
Judicial Officer Reports
Liz Dunn, speaking for the Directors of Academics, says she was appointed because of her values. “This is for you Colorado. Values are the Foundation of Leadership.” Speaking about values in the scope of “not taking sides” and “not picking teams,” right before mentioning being friends with Donald Hodge and living with Cassie Alsfeld, and mentioning her campaigning for the Foundation, sounds like shameless gloating to me. She reiterates her living with Cassie, asking that the body remember the “Foundation of Values.”
8:23 p.m. - Six or seven memorandums have been made to be sent to the administration, bike pumps for the bike racks being one of the topics. A new initiative about bus maps on placemats in dining halls is in effect at Florida State University, and he gets a hand count of senators thinking it’s a good idea. It’s good by about half. Sen. Krista Allen asks a “Did you know” question about maybe having placemats in the Union.
9:02 p.m. - It’s time for bills.
Disarray
9:04 p.m. - Half the Senate chamber doesn’t have a copy of Sen. Brett Jackson’s bill, which would allocate $4,000 from the Initiatives account for the Department of French Studies to help defray the costs of hosting the charitable fashion show, “Athletica: A Tribute to Sport.” Papers are flying back and forth, and no one really knows what to do. Someone says, “Motion to…” “withdraw” “no wait,” “never mind.” I couldn’t tell who clearly doesn’t get it, but I’ll let you know.
SIFE
9:09 p.m. - A bill would fund $600 to six people in Students In Free Enterprise for funding for the national competition. Sen. O’Malley speaks passionately about Free Enterprise, “putting the name of Louisiana State University on the national level, and this is a huge part of putting LSU back on the path to greatness.” The bill is passed unanimously, and they have to do this eight times, as there are eight bills.
Mark Hill
9:17 p.m. - I was just told by Chief Justice Mark Hill that the appeal was denied and the case against the Foundation will not be heard.
French Studies
“If you don’t pass this, it’s really not the way I want you to go.”
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