A fire hasbeen lit in the hearts of Southern University students due to a recent articlepublished in the Louisiana State University student newspaper, The DailyReveille, implying that LSU police see SU students as a security problem.
Also adding fuel to that fire, LSU will host its springfest greek show in the F.G. Clark Activity Center on the Southern University campus Saturday April 30. The greekshow is open to Southern student with organizers purchasing advertisement in the Southern student newspaper.
OnWednesday April 27, the students of Southern University will be holding a townhall meeting in the Stewart Hall Lawless Auditorium at noon.
LSUundergraduate chapters of the black Greek organization Omega Psi Phi and thetraditionally white Greek organization Tau Kappa Epsilon planned an event tobring black and white Greeks and students of LSU together titled “Salt NPepper.” The event, which was previously one party, was for the first timeturned into a weekend of events. The weekend originally consisted of fourevents, but one event scheduled at the Carl Maddox Field House was cancelledafter security issues were brought up.
“I thoroughly disagree with what the article ‘Salt ‘N’ Pepperparty cancelled’ says,” said Walter Maurice from New Orleans sophomore majoringin computer science. “This is not true. They just don’t want us affiliated orinteracting with their students at LSU because we are profound black studentsat Southern University.”
In theApril 25, edition of The Reveille, it was explained that event coordinatorsSteve Brockington, past president of Omega Psi Phi, and Tommy Fertel, presidentof Tau Kappa Epsilon, received permission from the University to serve alcoholat the party. Because of problemsat past Salt ‘N Pepper parties, 12 security officers would be required insteadof the initially agreed upon eight. The article stated that Fertel said LSUPDMaj. Mark Shaw, a Tau Kappa Epsilon alumnus, gave him “the facts” about thehistory of the Salt ‘N Pepper events, citing problems in previous years withfighting and recent troubles with Southern students on the LSU campus. Shaw,Fertel and Brockington then decided to meet.
Shawexpressed a concern over fighting and loitering. Brockington asked Shaw if hisconcerns were regarding the number “black people on campus.” Brockington saidShaw responded that it was not a race issue, but a liability.
“Thereporter is trying to make this a race issue. It’s not,” Shaw said in referenceto the article. “It’s a crowd issue. It’s not that Southern students are aproblem, the Omegas tried to have an LSU Greek event but they publicized it atSouthern.”
Shaw saidbecause Southern students were not officially invited, that when these studentsdid show up, they would be turned away. He said he knew a problem could arisefrom this.
“I don’tthink we will cause a ruckus, not all black people are ghetto and ignorant.They’re some professional blacks and they attend Southern University,” saidShawnda Hollins, Baton Rouge native senior criminal justice major. “It is astereotype and it is degrading for them to say this about our university.”
Brockingtondisagreed, saying the event was not inclusive to LSU. Anyone who confirmedattendance would be welcome.
The eventflyer read: Please RSVP your name, email address and phone number to Salt ‘NPepper [email protected]. The deadline is 04-21-2005.
“We made ita movement this year. Not only did not having the party mess up the agenda butit leaves the idea that maybe they do want to keep us segregated at LSU,”Brockington said. “We fell victim to a stereotype and a generalization. I feelsometimes certain aspects of LSU are not welcoming to black people. And when Isay LSU, I mean LSUPD.”
Brockingtonsaid every department at LSU was helpful in getting this party together.
“The reasonfor not having the party was spun out of control and it’s very unfortunate andit’s something we need to address in Baton Rouge as a whole,” said IsaacNetter, director of the African American Culture Center at LSU.
Accordingto Netter, the last party was held at a fraternity house and when it was overit took the police two hours to clear everyone out.
The LSUStudent Government Association released a written statement concerning theissue:
“LouisianaState University and Southern University share a relationship that ourUniversity recognizes as being indispensable. We believe it is essential tomaintain a constant and strong alliance with Southern, because doing sobenefits both our communities. We are dismayed by LSUPD Maj. Mark Shaw’sstatements, and want to assure the students at Southern University, and at LSU,that these comments and beliefs are not our own.”
Justin McCorkle, SU Student Government Association president-electsaid the student government is very appalled. However, he said that theyunderstand the statements made were not collectively from LSU.
“We appreciate the Chancellor as well as the studentgovernment over there taking a stand on the issue,” he said. “We understandthat this was one individual and not a true representative of the entireuniversity.”
LSU Chancellor Sean O’ Keefe addressed the issue in a letterto the editor of the Daily Reveille saying:
“Onbehalf of LSU, I regret any inference that Southern University students wouldbe the cause of discord and apologize for any offense felt by our colleaguesand friends. The opinions expressed in the article are not those of the LSUPolice Department or of the University. LSU and Southern University worktogether on many levels and interact on a regular basis. We will continue tocollaborate on initiatives that strengthen our relationship and are confidentthat this incident will not hinder the success of future activities orprograms. The words cannot be recovered and feelings of friends cannot be easilymended. But, it is my hope that faculty, staff and students at SouthernUniversity know that the LSU family is committed to an environment that isinclusive to all members of our community.”
SUChancellor Edward Jackson also released a statement regarding the issue:
“Wesincerely appreciate the response of Chancellor Sean O’ Keefe and the StudentGovernment Association at LSU regarding the unfortunate comments made by one oftheir staff. Our two universities have made remarkable strides and we wish tocontinue that progress. We reject any efforts on the part of anyone tointerfere with that advancement.”
