This page is made to help you learn about PSA elections and to help you run for office with us.

PSA runs a ticket of candidates each year for Student Government. Nomination to the ticket is open to all students, regardless of membership in PSA or PSA affiliated organizations. Prospective candidates can download our PSA SG Application in order to be considered for nomination. A PSA Candidate Questionnaire allows us to learn more about you and your positions on campus issues. The election committee reviews all applications and questionnaires and then refers them to the general membership for nomination. Applicants are invited to participate and attend all PSA general and election committee meetings.

Questions? Contact Joe Morel, PSA Election Coordinator  334-4249.

Fall Election (year): Filing: Campaigning Begins: General Election: Run-offs:
Spring Election (year): Filing: Campaigning Begins: General Election: Run-offs:

Good question. We agree with most students that student government is in many ways a farce, with no power and little effect on university policy. Where we differ is our belief that we can change this situation of dis-empowerment. SG controls student fees, the bus routes, and can create self-assessed fees to run the programs that the administration might oppose. It can give money to just causes and speakers; it can act as a progressive pulpit for change. Little by little, by running as an openly progressive party and with an organized political platform (see issues), we have utilized the senate and elections to make clear statements about student opinion on a variety of causes. In the senate we have organized PSA and friendly progressive senators into a PSA Caucus to further our issues once in office. For example, sweatshop labor used for LSU apparel was uncovered, exposed, and condemned by students through the work of PSA senators and grassroots activists, who together brought LSU to join the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), which independently monitors apparel factories. PSA senators on the inside have produced and passed numerous resolutions against intransigence in the Master Plan, while outside on the streets PSA has been organizing students and community to challenge harmful aspects of the Plan. This means that not only do we bring real issues and politics to the senate, but also we have developed strategies that include grassroots organizing, networking with community, environmental, and labor organizations, to make student opinion and progressive solutions a reality at LSU.

PSA has three-year track record of challenging and winning in Student Government elections with an openly progressive political platform. These elections have been an enduring success and challenge to the PSA, uniting various student groups for the purpose bringing progressive solutions and discourse to forefront of campus politics. And if you notice how the major tickets now use the rhetoric of real issues and empowerment, LSU elections have never been the same since!

Student Government holds two elections each year, in the fall and the spring. Full-time, non-probationary students are eligible to run for all positions. Fall elections determine half of the Student Senate, two University Court Justices, and members of the Athletic Council. Spring elections fill the other half of the Senate, two University Court Justices, members of the Rec. Sports Board, all College Council officers, and the Student Body President/Vice-President. PSA is interested in running you for any of them, but are most successful runs, and where the most influence for change can happen is in the Senate.

Student Senate is distributed according to college, each college having a number of seats according to enrolled population (side note: each college has its own Council, which is elected by its members in the Spring). If you are enrolled in Arts & Sciences this semester, for example, then you can only run for senate seats in A&S. Thus, only A&S students can vote for A&S candidates. Also, half of each colleges delegation is elected each semester. Thus A&Ss has 8 seats, 4 of which are elected in the fall, and the other 4 in the spring.

• Fall 2002, Spring 2003

The statements and opinions included on this site are those of the Progressive Student Alliance only. Any statements and opinions included in these pages are not those of Louisiana State University or the LSU Board of Supervisors.