LSU and Southern students gathered at Southern yesterday to voice concerns about comments made by an LSUPD officer last week which led to the cancellation of a Salt ‘N’ Pepper event.
Southern’s Student Government hosted a town hall meeting attended by students, Southern officials and LSU Student Government representatives, where they discussed the comments made by LSUPD Maj. Mark Shaw. Some students said they found the comments offensive and gave suggestions to solve the problems that they say stemmed from the comments.
The event was cancelled after one of its sponsors, Tau Kappa Epsilon, backed out. Tau Kappa Epsilon and Omega Psi Phi, a
co-sponsor, met with LSUPD prior to the cancellation of the event.
LSUPD Maj. Mark Shaw described the liabilities he thought the party would cause because of past problems on campus involving Southern students and told them there would be an increase in security costs.
Students expressed concern about whether the comments regarding Southern students being the cause of liability issues were “racist” and if they were aimed at all blacks or just Southern students.
One student described the comments as “direct insults,” and another demanded that action be taken against Shaw.
Some students voiced concern about the upcoming LSU Greek Show — a black, step contest that is a part of SpringFest, a program that recruits minority students — which is going to be held on Southern’s campus.
Chaunda Allen, assistant director of the LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the Greek Show is usually held in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but since the PMAC is currently being renovated, the event will be held at Southern’s F. G. Clark Activity Center, which most students call the “minidome.”
Many students said that because of Shaw’s comments, they think the event should not be held on Southern’s campus because some students feel unwanted. Some suggested Southern students should be not be charged to attend.
Justin McCorkle, Southern SG president, told the students that the minidome had been rented for the event and that admission was being charged for everyone — both Southern and LSU students.
Allen said the LSU OMA is paying between $8,000 and $10,000 to rent the building and that it has been charging admission for the Greek Show since 2002.
Admission will be between $5 and $7 for students with a college ID; a price has not been decided yet. A definitive price of $10 will be charged for everyone else.
Many students also offered suggestions for improving the current situation between LSU and Southern by enhancing the relationship between the two universities.
One student suggested starting dual-university organizations that would work together for unity and to create community activities.
Southern Chancellor Edward Jackson told students he had spoken with LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe and reiterated that the comments made by Shaw were his own opinions and not official opinions of anyone else at LSU.
Jason Hughes, a political science senior at Southern and outgoing SG senior senator, conducted the town-hall meeting, soliciting questions and keeping order.
“The meeting will serve as a catalyst,” Hughes said. “Change may not come soon, but it’s going to happen.”
Germaine Jones, a Southern mass communication senior, said he thinks that more town-hall meetings should be held, should last longer and should include more people.
Jones said there are a lot of racial issues, and a lot of people have “hate in their hearts” when it come to these issues.
“I never feel that people who don’t have hate in their heart get a chance to speak,” Jones said.
Ryan Berni, LSU SG assistant director of government relations, said the meeting was beneficial because people got to get their opinion out as well as get some of their questions answered.
“Dialogue is the first part of closing the gap,” Berni said. “The conversations need to move to the entire community.”