Moving forward with the Legion of Black Collegians presidential elections, slates Relphorde-Grant and Harrington-McGautha are both campaigning for the student government’s top spots.

**Harrington-McGautha**

Presidential candidate Korian Harrington, along with his running mate Simone McGautha, plans to focus on re-establishing LBC as a power on campus, he said.

“With past presidents, at a certain time, LBC was very sociable and we did get along with everyone,” he said. “Right now, people look at LBC as not professional, or it doesn’t do this and this and this because of the leadership.”

By connecting with other organization leaders, as well as incoming freshmen, Harrington said he hopes LBC will become more prominent on campus.

McGautha said she doesn’t think most black students, or students in general, understand what LBC does. She and Harrington asked several students, mostly freshman, about the student government, hoping to get an idea of how LBC was perceived.

“We had answers anywhere from, ‘Oh, aren’t they a gospel choir?’ to ‘Oh, aren’t they the people that give money to other organizations?’” she said. “It was just not, LBC should not be thought of as that.”

Harrington-McGautha’s platform focuses primarily on improving LBC’s image, according to their [website]( http://www.wix.com/koriansimone/iv#!). They plan to do that through connecting with other student leaders and freshmen, and doing community service.

“I feel like LBC is a great organization, it has the potential to be great,” McGautha said. “But under the right leadership.”

**Relphorde-Grant**

Greer Relphorde and Cameron Grant’s slate will make retention, integration, recognition and innovation their top priorities if elected, according to their [platform](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfs-MdZZkMA).

Relphorde said she hopes to ultimately make LBC a more inclusive government.

She also said she plans to do that by reaching out to other organizations on campus, as well as making events like the Welcome Black Barbeque, Black Homecoming and Black Love Week more welcoming.

“We just want to make these events more inclusive,” she said. “Everyone is welcome to our events and we would like for everyone to feel comfortable in the attending of our events.”

Relphorde said she also hopes to be more transparent with LBC’s budget and fund more outreach events.

To improve retention rates, Relphorde-Grant said they would focus on networking between undergraduates, graduates and faculty.

“I’ve had a lot of feedback from individuals saying that they would like (interacting with faculty),” she said. “I think it’s something that makes your experience more enjoyable, you know, if you have somebody who’s been where you are and can tell you what to do and what not to do. It’s easier to get through college, and I think that will help with retention rates.”

The slate said they also hope to restructure LBC Senate meetings so they’re more beneficial to members.

Externally, Relphorde said she would like LBC to be more active in Four Front. She is serving as LBC’s Four Front liaison this semester.

“When Four Front started, we were one of the four founding groups,” she said. “Since then, there have been a lot of changes, which are good, but at the same time I’d just like to keep (LBC involved) because I think its good to interact with other diverse groups on campus.”

Relphorde said to maintain tradition but move forward, she and Grant will be looking for ways LBC can integrate into the MU community.

“We have our own things,” she said. “But there needs to be that, plus more.”