Dean’s Message

As we bring this semester to a close it is time to reflect.  So much has happened in the COA that is creative and really excellent, so I want to congratulate you for your work with your teaching, your research and your service to our community.  We have nominated an excellent slate of candidates for the Eminent Professor awards from amongst you and I am proud to know each and every one of you. Once again, it proves we are blessed with an outstanding faculty and many talented students.

It has been a few weeks since the Presidential elections and a lot has happened. If you watch the news too much, you could be disheartened and even frightened.  So many expressions of overt hatred - “whites only” scribbled on a sign at a church advertising a Spanish Mass, swastika symbols painted on houses and businesses and videos claiming “heir, Trump” have even appeared.  Free speech?  Well, sure, but that doesn’t make the people that these free speech expressions are aimed against feel safe.  And many of them are our students.  I wrote to you about our opportunity to help our creative students use this historic moment to express their own feelings.  President Savoie wrote to you reiterating that UL Lafayette’s environment is one of inclusion and mutual respect.  I am grateful for your help in maintaining a stimulating learning environment for our students and I urge you to continue to work to make certain each and all of our students feel safe and are treated with respect by their fellow students.  Our diversity is our strength in our community.

All the best,  Gordon