Citing federal and state law protections for employees and students, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is urging Louisiana State University to not mandate COVID vaccines at the school.
The end of next month will mark one year after George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, leading to an eruption of Black Lives Matter protests across the country in 2020.
Eight days after his death, Black Out LSU organized students to peacefully demonstrate against police brutality and racial inequality in the Quad. It would be the first protest of many in a year at LSU that was characterized by student activism.
From the protests that erupted in Baton Rouge after the death of George Floyd, to the sit-in protests against the Universityâs mishandling of sexual assault allegations, students have put constant pressure on local leaders and administrators throughout the 2020-21 school year.
Interim President Thomas Galligan gave an update on the Universityâs progress on reforming Title IX procedures Thursday, and answered other questions students have raised on campus.
âWe have to train, train, train,â Galligan said. âBecause empathy, culture shift, increased sensitivity, is going to come from awareness and knowledge.â
Galligan said since the Husch Blackwell report was released, the University has looked at the 18 recommendations and plans to implement all of them.
âWe now have the 18 recommendations and an action plan that has 47 action items on it and weâre through a third of them,â Galligan said.
As for further sanctions against employees mentioned in the Husch Blackwell report, Galligan said there are âpeople who are definitely being looked at.â
The U.S. Department of Education launched two investigations into LSUâs handling of sexual assault cases. The first investigation, announced Feb. 2, will look into possible violations of the Clery Act. The second investigation is being conducted by the Office of Civil Rights. It was announced March 3 and will examine Title IX compliance at LSU over the past three years.Â
In a letter issued to Interim President Thomas Galligan on Feb. 2, the Department of Education said it would conduct an investigation into LSUâs transparency in reporting crimes and sexual violence that occur on campus. LSU officials must provide an âaudit trailâ showing all incidents of crime from 2016 through 2019, among other documents, for the first investigation.Â