As we begin to confront the disgraceful actions that took place at the Capitol on Jan. 6, discussions have sparked on campus regarding the University’s ties with some notable participants who were there that day.
Donald Rouse Sr., co-owner of the Rouses supermarket chain, posted Facebook pictures of himself and former Rouses personnel director Steve Galtier at the protest.
In 2019, Rouses signed a multi-year contract with the University that would make it the official supermarket of LSU Athletics.
LSU Board of Supervisors member Collis Temple Jr. started the conversation on how the University should cut ties with the supermarket at a Jan. 8 board meeting. Shortly afterward, the Student Senate drafted a resolution to preserve Rouses’ sponsorship with the University on the grounds that Rouse Sr. hadn’t actively participated in the actual siege of the Capitol. The resolution was later taken down.
Our University is a leader in the state. The actions of its affiliates and sponsors reflect upon the institution itself. The administration has an obligation to its students and community to condemn insurrection and demonstrations of white supremacy.
Officials at the University should not only condemn these actions verbally; they must also take physical action. Tom Galligan’s administration should cut ties with Rouses and any other businesses whose executive personnel participated in the protest.
Donald Rouse Sr.’s involvement in the protest alone is cause to sever the relationship with the supermarket. He and other insurrectionists threatened our democracy when they stormed the Capitol, and anybody that protested should be held accountable, even if they did not participate in the siege directly.
Our community needs to hold all local participants accountable for their actions. Rouse Sr. and Galtier were not the only local business affiliates at the protest, after all. Cinda Vanmerrienboar, the wife of the owner of Baton Rouge’s Red Zeppelin Pizza, was also present.
Trump is a symbol of white supremacy and hatred in this country. Our University shouldn’t support any business that stands behind or shares his values. I will never understand why somebody would elect Donald Trump into office, let alone risk their life in a pandemic to keep him there.
If the University is as committed to diversity and inclusion as it says, then it should cut ties with Rouses supermarket and any other business that evidently doesn’t share that same commitment.
They’ve apologized for their actions, but their apologies hold no substance. They are not sorry for their actions. They are just sorry that what they’ve done might affect their business operations.
We have to come together as a community to show these individuals we will not tolerate their behavior.
Clearly, they only care about what’s in their pockets — so we need to hit them where it hurts most.
Tamia Southall is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from New Orleans.