We marched from the African American Cultural Center(AACC) around the stadium and back to the front of the stadium. We held signs that read “LSU doesn’t respect black people” and “A house divided cannot stand.” Students who had not heard anything about the protest dropped what they were doing and marched with us. White and black students alike cheered us on as we marched.
Whether it was for the ban of the purple and gold Confederate flag, the vandalism of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity house after Harambee, lack of diversity on campus or just to be heard, we all marched united as one.
The protest was said to be peaceful but we were called “slaves” and “n—–s.” We were told to go back to Africa and drinks were thrown at our posters. Just like the University seems to turn its back on racism, I assume these words fell on deaf ears as well.
Collins Phillip yelled through the crowd Saturday “be at the Union at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.” Over a hundred students heard Phillips words and met on the steps in front of the Union on Monday. Many students walked by wondering what was going on and began to ask questions.
“This is the stuff that makes history,” said Donald Lewis, a protester and student at the University.
We walked from the Union to the Chancellor’s office and demanded to be heard by Chancellor Sean O’Keefe. After being told he was in a meeting we waited. We waited until his meeting was finished and for our concerns to be addressed.
Contrary to popular belief, the rebel flag is not the only issue that is a concern for black students on campus. Minority students at the University have been overlooked for far too long. Collins addressed this to the Chancellor in what was called the “Three Point Concerns.”
The first concern brought to the table was the purple and gold Confederate flag. Collins asked for the flag to be banned on campus. O’Keefe expressed his disapproval of the Confederate flag and said it was “indeed offensive” but “he cannot ban anything.” One protester shouted, “Well, if you agree that it’s offensive then why won’t you take the torch against it.”
The second concern is the relative under funding of minority and cultural departments at the University. Student Government President Michelle Gieg said, “We have an Office of Mulitcultural Affairs, a Women’s Center, an International Cultural Center and an African-American Cultural Center. We have a variety of cultural programming and curriculum. The list could go on and on.” The list, however, does not go on and on.
Gieg said, “Instead of raising tempers over an issue of individual preference, our University should focus on issues that will enrich the entire LSU community.” We will not allow the University to turn its back on racism and ignore an entire group of minorities. If an issue affects one group of students on campus then it is an issue of the entire LSU community that should not be overlooked.
The third issue is concerning minority recruitment in the light of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Collins argued if LSU is seen as a University that looks away from racism how will it attract the best and brightest African-American students, faculty, staff and athletes.
I am embarrassed students from New Orleans have to come to our University and have to deal with the same racial tension we have to face.
Ashley Sergeant, a displaced student from Dillard University said, “Now I am originally enrolled in Dillard University in the fall of 2004, never thinking that I would have to endure such racism in my college career. But then Katrina came and blew the levees in my neighborhood away and pushed six feet of water into my home and about two feet into my school. So here I am at Louisiana State University.”
LSU paints this picture that embraces all students as equals while ignoring the racial tension brewing below the surface. The University can only hide behind broken promises for so long before the problem comes knocking at their front door. Monday morning was a prime example. “It’s like we’re in the ’60s,” said one protester Saturday, but it is 2005 and the University needs to act like it.
Sevetri is a mass comm. sophomore.
Contact her at swilson@lsureveille.com