MEMORANDUM

DATE: August 15, 2019

TO: Lamar University Community

FROM: President Kenneth Evans

Today I became aware of hurtful and careless comments posted on social media by one of our students and additional negative remarks by others in response. Such comments do not represent the values of Lamar University or our students, faculty and staff, who form one of the most diverse campus communities in the country.

While LU has been called to take disciplinary action against the students, personal comments made on private social media accounts, offensive as they are, are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech. I deeply regret that these comments have offended members of our campus community and tarnished the good reputation of our university. However, as a public educational institution, we are required to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America but are also uniquely positioned to educate individuals to the insensitivity of such remarks.

Thank you for standing together as proud Cardinals and supporting a culture of inclusion that has made Lamar University successful for nearly a century.