The Black History Month Committee takes part in the pursuit of campus unity, but the attendants of Friday’s committee meeting were anything but united.
Emotions ran high in the African American Cultural Center as many people at the meeting argued that they disapproved of and were not informed about changes that were being made to the traditional programs of Black History Month.
The most important issue to many students was the decision to hold the Black Family Reunion separate from Southern University this year.
The Black Family Reunion is a program designed to respond to some of the problems of black communities as well as celebrate the heritage and culture of blacks.
On Friday, Jamal Taylor, freshman class president of SU, wrote a letter to the Black History Month Committee in response to the Collegiate Action Team meeting the two universities held the previous night, which discussed the family reunion program’s move.
Taylor said in his letter that he was upset because after several years of alternating the program between LSU and SU, the administration of LSU decided to pull out of the tradition.
“The Black Family Reunion is an event that should diversify the student bodies of our institutions of higher learning,” Taylor wrote. “The only way that we can diversify is if we give diversity a chance.”
Derrick Petit, political science junior, said he did not want two separate reunions because it would “defeat the whole purpose” of a program designed to bring the people of the two universities together.
Chaunda Allen, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Black History Month Committee adviser, said she thinks part of the reason people are upset is because they are misinformed about the history of the program.
Many students claimed that the family reunion program was a tradition between LSU and SU, but Allen said that it started out solely as a component of LSU and then it was hosted at SU for one year.
Allen said after the event was held at SU, the LSU administration agreed that it was “not a conducive environment” for the program and they would opt to keep the family reunions at LSU.
Allen said SU’s campus had a lack of restrooms, security and the “absence of a sizable professional staff capable of handling such a large amount of people.”
Even though the LSU event will be held separately from the SU family reunion program, all events are open, free and heavily publicized to students at SU, Allen said.
Allen said that as an alumna of SU, it is important to her to “extend the olive branch” to that university.
“I know what it’s like to go to Southern and not feel welcomed at LSU,” Allen said.
Taylor also questioned why administrators, and not students, on the committee made the decision to have separate family reunion programs.
“I challenge the students of Louisiana State University to question wrongdoings and injustices and ‘run’ your campus,” Taylor wrote.
He wrote that he thinks most administrators make decisions based on what will make them “look good” rather than the interest of their students.
Daine Appleberry, chairman of the Black History Month Committee, said he guarantees there will be six programs for Black History Month as originally planned, but they will run into March.
He said even though there will be separate family reunion programs, both programs will be successful.
“I will do my best to support Southern, and I hope they will do their best to support LSU,” Appleberry said.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]