As the school year begins, top student leaders are preparing to initiate new programs and to represent the student body to the best of their ability.

    Branching out to the community is part of SGA President John Lombardo’s plans for the year.

    “SGA has done a great job of providing services for the students and becoming well known on the campus, to an extent, but we’ve never really gotten involved in the community and took our concerns, as students, to the people,” Lombardo said.

    Acting as representatives for the university’s student body, Lombardo and Vice President Matthew Jewell will begin attending Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish Chamber of Commerce and Bayou Industrial Group meetings to let the community know that SGA is involved.

    A voter registration campaign is also being planned in order to familiarize students with all the candidates in the state senate campaign. Lombardo said the goal is clarify which candidates go with each portion of Thibodaux, whose districts were split of up during redistricting in March 2011. A meet and greet at the university with the candidates will be Sept. 26 if the SGA senate votes in favor of the event.

    As president, Lombardo said he hopes to start a press campaign to get the word out about organization functions through local media as well as achieving a full senate. A dress code may also be implemented for all senators in order to create a more “prestigious” organization.

    “We’re trying to truly represent the students and give that professional aspect that they’ve been looking for,” Lombardo said.

    If SGA can pull everything together and work together as a unit, Lombardo said he feels it will be a successful year. “The more we operate like a well-oiled machine the better we’ll provide for the students.”

    For SPA President Levi Clark, the school year is a time to reinvent the events the organization annually puts on.  “This year is about improving what we already have and not over doing it. We don’t want to have so many events that are not organized,” Clark said.

Clark said he plans to bring back events like Diversity Week to its previous magnitude. “It’s been neglected in the past and I really want it to be a good event.”

    SPA will sponsor Alive at Five and Halloween laser tag again this year but both events will be in new locations, Clark said. Alive at Five is tentatively scheduled to take place in the Quad instead of the street in front of the Student Union while laser tag is tentatively scheduled to take place outside, instead of the Student Union.

    As president, Clark said the board is one of his main focuses. He plans to increase the amount of time the board spends together outside of meeting so that they can work as a unit.

    “It’s easier to work with people you know and like instead of just throwing people together and expecting them to work well together.”

    Alicia Kozak and Katherine Gianelloni, SEALS President and Vice President, said students can expect to see many new events for the upcoming year.

    Game nights will begin happening once a month in places like La Maison du Bayou Apartments and Scholars, Kozak said, so that students can hang out together. “It’s going to be good, wholesome fun.”

    A balloon popping fundraiser will also be taking place in front of the Student Union. Kozak said the organization will be looking for local businesses and sponsors to donate prizes to put inside the balloons. Students will be able to purchase balloons, and whatever is inside is theirs to keep.

    A drinking and driving event where root beer will be handed out, the Cookies, Cupcakes and Condoms fundraiser and events for Domestic Violence Awareness in October are all scheduled, Kozak said. The Great American Smokeout, in conjunction with Tobacco-Free Living, will also take place with a few changes.

    “It will be a little different now that we are a tobacco-free campus. It will be a day full of things to do if you are a smoker to keep your mind off of smoking, or to help you stop smoking.”

    For Kozak, the expansion of the organization is her main focus. “SEALS used to be one of the bigger organizations on campus, and I would like to see it right up there with SGA and SPA again,” Kozak said.

    For Gianelloni, working together with the organization’s teams will be her main focus so that they can provide the best service possible.

    “My goal is to oversee everything that they do and get everything done so that we can provide excellent services.”

    All three organizations plan to work together on various activities throughout the year. Lombardo said SGA and SPA will partner together again to provide the Spirit Award at university sporting events and Kozak said SEALS will be working with SGA and SPA on Winterfest and Alive at Five.