Issues dealing with race are always touchy subjects. And at the University we have seen several discussions involving race that have caused tempers to flare on both sides of the argument, and at an off-campus party Oct. 2 another issue arose that has attracted the attention of the Student Equality Commission, the Black Student Union, the Living Wages Now campaign, the LSU chapter of the NAACP and the Student Government Student Senate. While speaking to another student senator, Preston Walhood referred to a chef at the Theta Xi fraternity house as a “negro.” Walhood has since admitted to using the term, saying it was “both inappropriate and offensive.” He later apologized for the comment at Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting after members of the Senate and black student organizations voiced their complaints during the meeting’s public input. We do not approve of Walhood’s comment and agree with him that it was inappropriate and offensive, but we do support his right to say it. The First Amendment protects our right to speak freely, even and especially when that speech is offensive. Some members of the student organizations who spoke called for Walhood’s resignation, but we do not believe he should be expected to resign. Walhood should have to answer for his comments at the polls when he is up for re-election, not to the Student Senate. Later in the meeting Ricardo Malbrew, graduate student senator, faced calls for his resignation based upon complaints about alleged ethical violations. We view this issue as separate and possibly unrelated, and we are waiting until more facts come to light before offering an opinion. But what we do see as a positive outcome from the whole affair is that so many students and others in the campus community came to the meeting to voice their concerns. It is encouraging to see people taking part in the democratic process, and we hope this concern for how Student Government operates will carry over to the elections on Oct. 25.
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