The President’s Millennial Scholars’ Program is a new initiative LSU’s Office of Diversity is undertaking this semester to provide students from underrepresented minority backgrounds with additional support.
Students from underrepresented backgrounds are provided with a variety of academic and career advisers and other assistance as part of the program, with 17 students currently participating.
The number of students in the program will be steadily increased each year to a total of 60, Office of Diversity graduate assistant Hilary Woods said.
“We want to give them a chance not only to do well in college, but beyond college.” said Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Dereck Rovaris Sr.
The President’s Millennial Scholars’ Program was just one of the initiatives presented by the Office of Diversity during its open house Thursday, which was held to showcase structural and staff changes and new plans for the future.
Associate Vice Provost Kenya Messer described the Office of Diversity’s open house as a “brand relaunch” with a new name, new staff and new initiatives to diversify the campus.
Efforts to diversify faculty by improving recruitment, training and retention of faculty from underrepresented populations also are underway, Messer said.
Rovaris said diversity and tolerance at LSU have generally gotten better, citing a campaign by a predecessor against the widespread display of purple and gold Confederate flags during LSU football games as a success.
“The university took a stand and said that this is not the kind of environment we want,” Rovaris said.
Officially licensed LSU vendors were forbidden from selling Confederate flag-themed merchandise, and the number of Confederate flags being displayed during football games rapidly dwindled.
With the recent national controversy over use of the Confederate flag, Rovaris said the Office of Diversity is working with Student Government and others to formulate a response if displays of the flag on gamedays make a resurgence.
Rovaris said although progress in diversity has been made, there is still a need for improvement.
Recent events in the community, such as the Daughters of the Confederacy meeting and St. George redistricting proposal, were given as examples of incidents that have raised racial tensions.
Woods said widespread “microaggression” — subtle and sometimes unintentional actions or words that reinforce racist stereotypes or otherwise make people uncomfortable — is an issue in need of further awareness.
”When someone does something, don’t be afraid to say [something],” Woods said.
The belief that increasing diversity would negatively affect academic quality has been shown to be unfounded, Rovaris said.
“While our underrepresented populations have increased, our incoming ACT scores have also increased.” Rovaris said.

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Ari Ross

Campus Federal community affairs director Blaine Grimes welcomes guests Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, during the Open House event at the Office of Diversity.