When it comes to student representation in universities, who has the right answer?

Nearly two weeks ago, an article from the Reveille tackled the subject of student representation by interviewing students about how well they feel represented on campus. A great idea, but an idea that delivers little to people underrepresented on campus.

There are endless plights a person or an organization can have against LSU. Each case can find a resolution in a compromise and may even be a win for the plaintiff, but in the end, the problem is too abstract in nature.

There are two terms you should know: racial location and racial standpoint. Racial location refers to a person being a member of a certain race. Racial standpoint is understanding what being a member of a certain race means for your place in society.

I bring these terms up to remind you that every person views their place in society differently. Someone who is very race-conscious might feel underrepresented at LSU, but some minorities have all white friends and don’t second-guess it.

Feeling represented is not measurable because even in the face of the discrepancy occurring in the hiring field, not every employee will feel underrepresented in the workplace.

I cannot judge LSU students based on their feelings of inclusivity. There are over 500 clubs at the university, so I am sure that you will have some organization to join and feel accepted. There are over 30,000 students at LSU, so people like you are bound to exist.

However, the problem doesn’t start with feelings; it starts and ends with a statistically grounded argument. Looking at the faculty fall headcount, there is a drastic lean toward hiring white faculty, so an argument against LSU’s hiring processes can be made.

This argument could pivot towards addressing feelings of inclusivity, but the main idea cannot be feelings of inclusivity. Simultaneously, if you found statistics that showed there is a racial discrepancy in people who get accepted into LSU, a case addressing inclusivity could be argued.

It doesn’t matter to me that LSU’s president is a racial minority. In an ideal world, the minority in power would be socially conscious enough to implement drastic changes. Still, for the sake of not being disappointed, we must assume that minimal steps will be taken.

If this article hit Tate’s desk, what do you imagine his course of action would be? If I had to bet a dollar, I would lean toward ineffective changes. Posters with positive messaging or a new office in the student union dedicated to blank will not solve our issues.

If you want inclusivity, look at your friend group and assess whether you are reaching outside your bubble. Tell your white friends to mingle with non-white people. Show minorities they can fit in with people they may not have grown up around. This is not an LSU problem; it’s a student issue, and it’s very possible to fix by doing some of the above.

Mohammad Tantawi is a 24-year-old mass communication senior from Smyrna, Tenn.