This time it appears the administration is not simply going to “corrall” the problem.
On Friday at 3:35 p.m. Chancellor Sean O’Keefe sent a broadcast e-mail to the LSU community regarding the purple-and-gold Confederate flag.
In the e-mail, O’Keefe acknowledged the right granted by the First Amendment to wave the flag, but took a strong stance against its display on campus.
“LSU does not and will not support the display of this symbol,” O’Keefe wrote. He also stated that the University has taken measures to discourage the sale and distribution of this flag.
While we are often critical of the University administration and its policies in this space, on this issue we applaud the chancellor for taking a stand and stating his position so early in the semester. Many of the problems with the Confederate flag on this campus come from a long history of ignoring the voices of protest and discouraging debate.
We feel O’Keefe has done all he can within the bounds of the law to ban the display of a flag, which many in our community view as a symbol of hatred and intolerance.
We believe this is an issue that will continue to be debated long after most of us have graduated. It is our view that the only way it will be resolved is through open and civil discussion by all parties involved.
Therefore we call on other influential members of the LSU community to step forward and state their positions on the use of the purple-and-gold Confederate flag.
Those in a position to have their views heard are shirking their responsibility to the public by staying quiet on this issue. Student Government, the football team, staff, faculty and students can all contribute to a discussion that helps further our understanding and appreciation of the different backgrounds all of us come from.
Send letters to the editor to [email protected] or at www.lsureveille.com.