"LSU Law is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we believe the legal profession benefits from varied perspectives and backgrounds and is more creative and effective when its membership reflects the full spectrum of civil society . . . We pride ourselves in promoting an inclusive and respectful environment for the exchange of ideas." -Excerpt from LSU Law's Diversity and Inclusion Statement
For these reasons, among others, the 2018 graduating class of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center deserves an apolitical and noncontroversial speaker who is reflective of the ideals of this institution and its graduates. Our students welcome and value the exchange of varying ideas. However, the speaker chosen for the commencement ceremony has proudly flaunted his anti-inclusion views and supported divisive legislation. What stands out most about Congressman Steve Scalise is his insolent attendance of, and participation in, white supremacist events during his campaign. A speaker who courts white-supremacists is highly offensive to the students that make up the graduating class. Congressman Scalise has repeatedly attempted to exclude homosexual couples from the right to marry, which runs counter to the Law Center's welcoming of individuals regardless of their gender identities and sexual orientation. Additionally, Scalise has boldly refused to acknowledge the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday- displaying his blatant disrespect for racial equality. The graduating students deserve a speaker who does not stand in opposition to the values our institution endorses. Please join us in signing this petition to prompt our administration and members of the SBA to select another speaker.
