About 40 to 50 members of the Student Equality Commission and Black Student Union attended Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting in the Union’s Atchafalaya Room.
The increased attendance was mainly to support Collins Phillips, Student Equality Commission leader, after University officials charged him with five violations of the University Code of Student Conduct.
After a period of open questions and discussion, Phillips addressed the Senate about students’ rights and responsibilities.
“You need to read those charges,” Phillips said. That’s First Amendment rights.
Phillips also alluded to the diversity of attendees observing the meeting.
“How many black people have you seen at a Senate meeting ever?” Phillips asked. You have never seen this many.
Jamal Taylor, Southern University freshman class president, also addressed the Senate regarding the Black Family Reunion, an annual tradition between the University and SU designed to celebrate black culture.
Taylor wrote a letter on Jan. 27 to Daine Appleberry, Black History Month Committee chairman, expressing his displeasure about the University’s decision to hold a separate Black Family Reunion from SU this year.
At the SG meeting, Taylor described the behavior of Chaunda Allen, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, during a Black History Month meeting on Friday.
When Taylor read his letter to Appleberry during the Friday meeting, he said Allen acted inappropriately by reclining in a chair and seeming uninterested. The letter included references to “Allen’s supposed alter ego,” Rhonda.
According to the letter, Taylor was discouraged from discussing the situation with Allen because of her potential temper.
“I was told basically that I would get told off by this alter ego,” Taylor wrote.
During the SG meeting, Taylor attributed the behavior to lack of respect from University administrators.
“I want an apology from the person who disrespected me as an individual and a young adult,” Taylor said.
Taylor also compared the situation to the charges against Phillips.
“I challenge the students of Louisiana State University to take your campus back,” Taylor said.
Heath Hattaway, College of Arts and Sciences senator, said SG will likely introduce an independent task committee proposal next week to investigate charges against Phillips. University administrators are invited to attend next week’s Senate meeting to discuss the situation, Hattaway said.
 
Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]