Members of the LSU chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity are still waiting for the University to appropriately respond to the vandalism of their house last semester, which some members said they think was racially motivated.
Jermaine Watson, Alpha Phi Alpha adviser, wrote a letter Friday to Risa Palm, executive vice chancellor, that expressed the fraternity’s disappointment in the University’s lack of concern and requested a meeting to discuss a resolution.
In late October 2005, members of Alpha Phi Alpha returned to their house from Harambee, a program to unite black students, and found spray-painted profanities and the letters “KA” written on the back of the house.
The house was egged about two weeks later.
Antonio Cousin, Alpha Phi Alpha vice president, said he thinks the vandalism events were racially motivated because they occurred when racial tensions were high on campus during last semester’s Confederate flag protests.
Cousin said he thinks the recent sanctions against Collins Phillips have raised tensions on campus again.
In Watson’s letter, he said the first meeting held in response to the vandalism events among the fraternity representatives and University officials “fully met [his] expectations, and it was very productive.”
As a result, undercover policemen were dispatched to survey the Alpha Phi Alpha house.
After the second vandalism, Watson wrote that the local graduate chapter thought it was necessary to move the discussions from Student Services to the chancellor’s office to express the growing severity of the issue.
In the second meeting, members of the fraternity met with members of LSUPD, a representative from Residential Life, a representative from the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Katrice Albert, vice provost of equity and diversity.
Cousin said they wanted the University to take a stand by issuing a statement that vandalism of property would not be tolerated. They also requested security cameras for the house but were told that it was unnecessary and not financially possible.
Cousin said the vice provost dominated the meeting which prevented an effective dialogue.
“It was a waste of my time. Nothing was accomplished at all,” Cousin said.
Watson wrote in the letter that Albert repeatedly interrupted members of the fraternity during the meeting and spoke to them in an “accusatory tone and immediately put members of the fraternity in a posture of defense.”
“We feel we were met with a lack of professionalism on the part of Dr. Albert,” Watson wrote. “At no point during the meeting did she express a genuine desire to hear the concerns of the fraternity.”
Watson wrote that the only assurance they received from Albert was that she would contact their area director, Alvin Cavalier, but “to date, he has not been contacted.”
Cousin said he thinks the University is trying to downplay the vandalism events as innocent fraternity pranks because they do not want the negative publicity.
In his letter, Watson requested a meeting with a University representative by Feb. 17 “regarding either a resolution to this matter or some progress toward its end.”
Palm said she has not yet received the letter.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]