The second annual Learn 2 Live event will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. in Southern University’s event center. The event will serve as an open dialogue for people to discuss issues facing the black community, as well as issues within the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Members of LSUPD, Southern University Police Department, and Baton Rouge Police Department will participate in the open-discussion panel.
The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement will have a presentation on the rights of citizens and how one should conduct themselves when encountering law enforcement.
The first Learn 2 Live event was filled to maximum capacity at the Manship School of Mass Communication last year. Dereck Rovaris, Chief Diversity Officer from the University’s Office of Diversity and co-facilitator of the Learn 2 Live event, said he wants this year to be bigger and better than last.
“[We] just want as many people to come out as possible,” he said.
Rovaris acknowledged that many student leaders from both colleges helped organize the event.
Sports administration senior and LSU Black Student Union president Destinee’ Merida said the Learn 2 Live event will help clear up many myths the community holds regarding law enforement.
“Often, one may think they have to act a certain way or comply to certain things when interacting with law enforcement, and many times, that is not the case,” Merida said.
She said it is important for local law enforcement to help the community understand what news is factual versus fabricated, especially during controversial times.
University graduate assistant Fallan Frank has been helping coordinate the event for almost two months and said the coordinators wanted to make sure the event was not just another lecture.
“It’s really a hands on event,” Frank said. “We didn’t want it to be another lecture because we know students don’t really like going to those events.”
She said she believes it is crucial for the two major universities in Baton Rouge to come together and help each other.
“With everything going on with the flood and Alton Sterling, it is more important than ever for the two [universities] to come together,” Frank said.