About 20 student leaders from Southern University and LSU gathered Saturday to discuss the relationship between the two schools as well as ideas to bring the two campuses together.
The Collegiate Action Team – a joint-university board – hosted a leadership summit to bring LSU and SU student organizations together to discuss future programs for the schools.
Katrice Albert, LSU vice provost of equity and diversity, spoke to the group about the need for their leadership in bridging the gap between the LSU and SU.
“Baton Rouge is your city – there should be no place you don’t feel welcome to go,” she said.
Albert said the goal of the group should be to rid students of stereotypes and fears about the other campus.
“You can have the choice to accept difference or act on stereotypes and fears,” Albert said.
Patrick Mccune, 2000-2001 LSU Student Government president, helped found CATs and told students at the summit they started the group because of the large number of racial issues that existed between the two campuses.
Mccune said the purpose of the organization was to bring students from both schools together and to foster discussion about racial issues between the two schools.
“Today, even though small in number, it’s encouraging to know the spirit continues,” he said.
Mccune said that in previous years, CATs has hosted discussions between the two schools, joint programs and a high school leader breakfast that brought area high school seniors together to learn about LSU and SU.
David DeLaune, LSU political science junior and chairman of alumni associations with the College Republicans, said he thinks CATs is a great organization.
“This is when we need to pull together,” DeLaune said.
Samuel Davenport, SU political science senior and CATs representative, said he thinks the summit was beneficial.
Davenport said the turnout was not what the group had hoped for and cited poor publicity – not giving students enough notice because of the hurricanes – for it.
Davenport said he hopes there will be another summit next semester hosted on Southern’s campus for leaders from both schools.
Regina McCutcheon, biology senior attending LSU from Xavier University, said she attended the high school leadership breakfast when she was a high school senior and is the Xavier student body president.
McCutcheon attended the CATs summit and said the group between LSU and SU is important.
“A university is a culture,” she said. “Mixing those cultures together is very important.”
McCutcheon said Xavier was planning joint programs with other New Orleans universities before Hurricane Katrina and will consider planning joint functions with Baton Rouge schools as well.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]