Prof. remembers discriminationI liked Lindsey Meaux’s story in the Oct. 22 Daily Reveille about Middleton Library. At the time of Middleton Library’s construction in 1958, I was Professor of Forestry at LSU, and I opposed forcible racial segregation. In 1957-58, the Louisiana Legislature went wild trying to preserve racial discrimination against blacks by passing laws. In 1958, the architects had to obey the law on facilities like drinking fountains, so Middleton Library had two side-by-side identical drinking fountains. A sign over one fountain read “White,” and the other fountain had a sign reading “Colored.”Within a couple of days, white students in this new library tore down the “Colored” sign and added a sign under the “White” sign reading “Trash.”It soon became obvious the vast majority of white students at LSU favored desegregation.Every time I go to Middleton Library, I am reminded of the bad old days of racial segregation.Paul Y. Burnsprofessor emeritus, renewable natural resources
—Middleton Library unimpressiveI just finished reading today’s Daily Reveille, and I am in total shock. Middleton is “impressive” and “inspired”? Really? It’s disgusting! Have you been to the third floor stacks lately? You can hardly even navigate the damn place. I just transferred here as a junior, and the library on campus has, without a doubt, been LSU’s biggest disappointment (not that I haven’t encountered plenty of others). If I had a little more time on my hands, I would attempt to write something worthy of putting in your newspaper, but I don’t — so for the love of God, if someone out there with sense does write something on the topic, please print it. It’s completely incomprehensible to me that a university that spends millions of dollars on athletics would pat itself on the back for the atrocity you guys want to call a library. But seriously … have you been there lately? How could you be remotely proud of that? The resources available? They are great, but it’s just not enough to overshadow the outdated interior and layout. Not for a school this big and with this much money. No way.Brittany Holtreligious studies junior