This causes me deep pain. It was not incidental that I was President of the SGA when we integrated the school in 1965. One quick story to add to the history that was never made public. Almost immediately after we accepted black men on the campus that summer the school pool was closed. On investigation and after we could not locate the President of the University or any official having some level of responsbibility, a school paper reporter finally taked to a worker, looking together down at the pool, and asked why it was closed. "For Repairs." Each looked down at the pool without viewing an damage. Reporter: "Why?" Without an answer, "You must have been told why." Sheepishly, "Repairs from damage caused by the earthquake in Alaska." The pool soon reopened.
The South has often been at the bottom of every meaningful statistic in education, healthcare, life expectancy, etc. And Louisiana is normally at the bottom of those rankings, unless Mississippi outright tanks. Now, Louisiana wants to be the undisputed all-time champion of failure. All in the belief that being the most MAGA of MAGAs will give El Jeffy a place at il Poochie’s table. Except the places are already set, the doors are shut, and he’ll never be allowed in because he’s just another tool
Thanks Bob, lots of to digest in this post. We may be going back from a “university” to an “Agricultural and Mechanical College”. Of course, that served us well for times gone by. One could argue that preparing children for real work and having world class sports teams is really all we need in these times. Landry and friends can justly say, “let the chips fall where they may, and I have all the chips on my side of the table.” So the board members can say that it is all well and good because we will be RICHER for it. Will we? We’re #3! Yes but we are also #’s 48, 49, and sometimes 50.
And as LSU goes, so does the fate of all institutions of higher learning in Louisiana.
Doubtful “they” will change the structure of the state’s HBCUs but I foresee the funding being reduced to those schools. Maybe Grambling and Southern will just barely receive above anything required, but will there even be a requirement any longer?
Pretty ruthless in a state that is 3rd in the country with a population that is non-white behind DC and Mississippi.
I would not be surprised if they tried to shut down Southern or Grambling. They could call it a play to save money and reinvest in the other institutions of higher learning while at the same time actually use it for more tax cuts for the 1%.
Totally disgraceful. LSU's current accreditor should cancel LSU's accreditation before it can join the new organization. Someone has to a stand against this blatantly racist actions by a supposedly great university. As for Landry, why doesn't he just put a Klan costume on. It represents what he and his boss in DC are.
Why is it so clearly apparent to the average citizen of our state as to Landry’s actions? Does he think we are all ignorant, dumber than dirt, or just plain stupid? Not all of us are MAGA supporters or Trumpers!
I suspected Tate was using LSU as a stepping stone from the beginning. He had no ties to the state or school, and Rutgers is more prestigious. I don’t think he was in danger of getting fired, but he saw the handwriting on the wall of what the future holds for LSU. As to the others, it seems that regardless of your qualifications, if you are a minority you are considered a DEI hire. Mom and dad were both at LSU when the first back students were admitted, and over the past 60 years the ratio has never come close to the state’s demographics.
We know 2 things with relative certainty: 1. Gov. Landry is a supporter of the POTUS and will do things to please him and stay in his good favor. 2. President Trump is opposed to DEI. While what is going on seems to reflect these 2 things, it seems almost too blatant. I never realized how strong the backlash to affirmative action and other efforts to level the playing field for minorities was until this second Trump term, just as I tried to believe opposition to President Obama was not, at its heart, based on race. I try not to be cynical, but I am fighting a losing battle. President Trump has clearly proven that truth is no longer important to his supporters. LSU has historically proven politics trumps everything. So, we mullets have little chance of knowing the truth about anything. I hate to say this, but I think DEI in recent years has had more negative than positive effects for the people it is intended to protect.
Clear-eyed truth is so painful that it's natural to try and avoid it. Like you, I wanted to believe we had turned a corner with Obama's election. I was in Washington for Obama's first inauguration, and I knew right then and ever after that opposition to Obama was all about race no matter what the opposition claimed. I believe many of them lied to themselves about that. Many are still lying to themselves about that. It must be getting harder, though, because there's no cover anymore. Now we have leadership that says the quiet part out loud.
With the return of “State Rights” politics to Louisiana, it will be a long time before LSU’s first president, William Tecumseh Sherman, is remembered .
Thank you for this article, Bob! The removal of DEI; diversity, equity, and inclusion; programs has happened at 'Blitzkrieg' speed at my place of employment, too. I'm thinking of Jeff Foxworthy's comedy series, "You Might be a Redneck if ...." Perhaps one might be a racist if he thinks 'woke' needs to die; being too smart and articulate is 'uppity'; making fun of a woman's long eyelashes is funny; protecting innocence is far more important than a complete, honest, and accurate recounting of history and preparing a formative mind to understand and deal with the world as it truly is!
This causes me deep pain. It was not incidental that I was President of the SGA when we integrated the school in 1965. One quick story to add to the history that was never made public. Almost immediately after we accepted black men on the campus that summer the school pool was closed. On investigation and after we could not locate the President of the University or any official having some level of responsbibility, a school paper reporter finally taked to a worker, looking together down at the pool, and asked why it was closed. "For Repairs." Each looked down at the pool without viewing an damage. Reporter: "Why?" Without an answer, "You must have been told why." Sheepishly, "Repairs from damage caused by the earthquake in Alaska." The pool soon reopened.
Joe Morris Doss
The South has often been at the bottom of every meaningful statistic in education, healthcare, life expectancy, etc. And Louisiana is normally at the bottom of those rankings, unless Mississippi outright tanks. Now, Louisiana wants to be the undisputed all-time champion of failure. All in the belief that being the most MAGA of MAGAs will give El Jeffy a place at il Poochie’s table. Except the places are already set, the doors are shut, and he’ll never be allowed in because he’s just another tool
We see it happening before our eyes and it is horrifying. Thank you for your clear writing on this.
Thanks Bob, lots of to digest in this post. We may be going back from a “university” to an “Agricultural and Mechanical College”. Of course, that served us well for times gone by. One could argue that preparing children for real work and having world class sports teams is really all we need in these times. Landry and friends can justly say, “let the chips fall where they may, and I have all the chips on my side of the table.” So the board members can say that it is all well and good because we will be RICHER for it. Will we? We’re #3! Yes but we are also #’s 48, 49, and sometimes 50.
And as LSU goes, so does the fate of all institutions of higher learning in Louisiana.
Doubtful “they” will change the structure of the state’s HBCUs but I foresee the funding being reduced to those schools. Maybe Grambling and Southern will just barely receive above anything required, but will there even be a requirement any longer?
Pretty ruthless in a state that is 3rd in the country with a population that is non-white behind DC and Mississippi.
I would not be surprised if they tried to shut down Southern or Grambling. They could call it a play to save money and reinvest in the other institutions of higher learning while at the same time actually use it for more tax cuts for the 1%.
Good point.
We are definitely at a breaking point, will find out soon enough which way it will break.
Totally disgraceful. LSU's current accreditor should cancel LSU's accreditation before it can join the new organization. Someone has to a stand against this blatantly racist actions by a supposedly great university. As for Landry, why doesn't he just put a Klan costume on. It represents what he and his boss in DC are.
This makes sense, and it is upsetting. I don't respect or trust Landry.
I can't put my honest feelings in print.
Me either.
Why is it so clearly apparent to the average citizen of our state as to Landry’s actions? Does he think we are all ignorant, dumber than dirt, or just plain stupid? Not all of us are MAGA supporters or Trumpers!
I suspected Tate was using LSU as a stepping stone from the beginning. He had no ties to the state or school, and Rutgers is more prestigious. I don’t think he was in danger of getting fired, but he saw the handwriting on the wall of what the future holds for LSU. As to the others, it seems that regardless of your qualifications, if you are a minority you are considered a DEI hire. Mom and dad were both at LSU when the first back students were admitted, and over the past 60 years the ratio has never come close to the state’s demographics.
We know 2 things with relative certainty: 1. Gov. Landry is a supporter of the POTUS and will do things to please him and stay in his good favor. 2. President Trump is opposed to DEI. While what is going on seems to reflect these 2 things, it seems almost too blatant. I never realized how strong the backlash to affirmative action and other efforts to level the playing field for minorities was until this second Trump term, just as I tried to believe opposition to President Obama was not, at its heart, based on race. I try not to be cynical, but I am fighting a losing battle. President Trump has clearly proven that truth is no longer important to his supporters. LSU has historically proven politics trumps everything. So, we mullets have little chance of knowing the truth about anything. I hate to say this, but I think DEI in recent years has had more negative than positive effects for the people it is intended to protect.
Like you, I tried to give those opposed to Obama the benefit of the doubt. I will never make the error again.
Clear-eyed truth is so painful that it's natural to try and avoid it. Like you, I wanted to believe we had turned a corner with Obama's election. I was in Washington for Obama's first inauguration, and I knew right then and ever after that opposition to Obama was all about race no matter what the opposition claimed. I believe many of them lied to themselves about that. Many are still lying to themselves about that. It must be getting harder, though, because there's no cover anymore. Now we have leadership that says the quiet part out loud.
With the return of “State Rights” politics to Louisiana, it will be a long time before LSU’s first president, William Tecumseh Sherman, is remembered .
As joked by the Simpson's, LSU isn't racist, just #1 among racists. ;-)
Thank you for this article, Bob! The removal of DEI; diversity, equity, and inclusion; programs has happened at 'Blitzkrieg' speed at my place of employment, too. I'm thinking of Jeff Foxworthy's comedy series, "You Might be a Redneck if ...." Perhaps one might be a racist if he thinks 'woke' needs to die; being too smart and articulate is 'uppity'; making fun of a woman's long eyelashes is funny; protecting innocence is far more important than a complete, honest, and accurate recounting of history and preparing a formative mind to understand and deal with the world as it truly is!