The following letter was sent to Herb Vincent, associate vice chancellor for University Relations and senior associate athletics director, along with The Daily Reveille for publication.

Dear Mr. Vincent:

I want to respectfully respond to LSU’s decision and your support of the editing out the Christian Cross from a recent student photo. Don’t you agree as an American and as an Educator that it’s alarming that at an institution of higher learning that LSU would subjectively elect to impede upon the basic tenets of freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assemble? Isn’t the recent action by LSU, defended by you, the truest form of censorship, and isn’t this an abuse of governmental power?

And might you expound upon whom actually might be “offended” at the mere appearance of a small Christian Cross? Might we, the Public, inquire into the name and title of the individual that specifically took it upon him/herself to make this decision and to unilaterally declare the Christian Cross as a divisive symbol? You, in your actions, have single handedly declared and relegated the Christian Cross as a symbol of hate. And might I solicit your personal opinion as to why and when and to whom does a Christian Cross become a symbol of offense? Do you actually know what the Christian Cross represents? It is a symbol that reminds “all” of Hope, Peace, Forgiveness, Sacrifice and selfless Love.

I’m not an alarmist, but this type of ‘PC’ and arbitrary cleansing and intrusion by LSU staff, fully supported by you, is indeed very dangerous to every individual’s rights and religious freedoms and the exercising thereof. If anything, LSU staff and especially you should be disseminating messages of tolerance, understanding and learning and acceptance of all religions. I think that LSU staff failed every student and all Americans by making such a discriminating and hateful decision and subsequently your defending the indefensible is alarming to all.

Thank you for reading my letter and accepting it in the spirit that it is sent and I eagerly await your thoughtful and reflective reply, in the meantime I am very respectfully yours;

Gregg Morrell

Orlando, Florida