This week marked a serious step forward for the student body of Nicholls State University. For the first time in a few years, students were given a choice as to who will lead both the Student Government Association and Student Programming Association. In recent years, student body participation in elections has not been large enough, which causes some candidates to enter office without opposition. This sometimes, but not always, creates student leaders that are relax in their positions and do not actively pursue the betterment of the University for every student.

We believe active campaigning is essential for the development of informed decisions by both voters and elected officials. Candidates for office are allowed to present their views on issues impacting Nicholls and then voters are able to decide which candidate will best represent his or her values.

As the voting period approached, we acknowledge that the intensity of some of the campaigning increased. We do not condone the actions of every person involved in campaigning, but we will leave judgment of those involved for each student to decide.

As this newspaper is being read today, the winners of the student elections are being announced. We congratulate our newly elected student leaders and wish them the best of luck in their endeavor to represent the student body of Nicholls State.

Although the elections have ended and campaign materials are being taken down, the work is just beginning. The incoming student leaders will have a variety of challenges to overcome.

The newly elected SGA president will be responsible for working with the University administration to ensure that the concerns of the student body are addressed as decisions start to be made regarding future budget cuts.

In addition, the new SGA president will be expected to keep the University administration on task as plans to construct the student recreation center begin to move forward. The recreation center has been delayed for far too long and the student body will not tolerate unnecessary delays in construction.

The next SGA president will have to address these and other concerns of the student body as well as perform the normal duties of the student government president, which include representing the student body before the state, serving on various University committees and ensuring that the overall needs of the student body are met.

The newly elected SPA president will face challenges as well. While SPA has solid core programming, students are looking for additional events that are new, entertaining and can be added to existing traditions.

It will be difficult for the next SPA president, because the student body expects the organization to do more programming with fewer resources. The cost for entertainment has increased while the SPA budget has not.

We suggest the SPA president-elect implement partnerships with other student organizations. Pooling resources together can help offset the rising costs of student programming.

While the future is filled with daunting challenges for our next set of leaders, we are confident that the students elected are ready for the task, because this year the newly elected leaders know they have the support of the student body.