I am a proud LSU alumnus. I am a proud alumnus of The Daily Reveille and of the Manship School of Mass Communication, where I learned the value and influence of the media as a catalyst for positive change and learned to respect of the power of the First Amendment and all it guarantees, including the right to free assembly. I am a proud alumnus of the Greek system, where as a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, I made lifelong friends and developed values that make up the foundation of who I am today. As all of these things, I have serious concerns about the restrictions contained within the much-discussed “Week of Reflection” memo.
However, as a human, I grieve the loss of Max Gruver. As a human, I have to admit that, as part of the Greek system, I developed bad habits as part of a culture that is inseparable with over consumption of alcohol, habits that have led to negative personal consequences even as I’ve grown older and apart from my time at LSU. I know there are innumerable alumni who, if they’re being honest with themselves, have similar perspectives.
As students, faculty and alumni of the University, its Greek system and of this media institution, it’s time for all of us to reflect on who we are, the kinds of men and women we strive for the University to produce, and whether the negative aspects of our alcohol-laden culture can or ever will change. In life, Max Gruver deserved better — from both the University and the Greek system. In death, he deserves more from all of us than trivial technical arguments about the legality of the “Week of Reflection” memo, or ridiculous, tactless allusions to Dean Wormer from Animal House paired with the suggestion that now is the appropriate time for the Greek community to rise in defiance of anything. All of us who are part of the LSU community owe Max Gruver that consideration as part of our own period of reflection.
Mathew Sanders
Manship School of Mass Communication, ’06