LSU sends email to student athletes about reacting to Alton Sterling decision

By JAMES MORAN | Tiger Rag Associate Editor

LSU coach Ed Orgeron called a meeting Tuesday night with select upperclassmen to discuss the Alton Sterling situation, a source told Tiger Rag editor Cody Worsham.

The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that insufficient evidence existed to charge two Baton Rouge police officers in the shooting death, which occurred last July and was captured on video.

In the aftermath of the DOJ decision, LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar sent an email to all of the school’s student athletes regarding the situation. It was first reported by The Advocate and has since been published in its entirety by SB Nation. You can read it here.

“We know this is a subject that many of you care deeply about and we respect and support your right to speak publicly and express your opinions,” Seger wrote.

However, the email included a list of reminders for student athletes who choose to express their opinion publicly. Namely, that if players chose to speak out, they ask that they don’t do so while wearing any LSU gear or using any school branding.

Here’s an excerpt, courtesy of SB Nation:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] As student-athletes, you are some of LSU’s most visible ambassadors. Many of you enjoy a large following and with that comes responsibility. Remember that what you say and do directly impacts how people around the world view LSU. IMPORTANT: If you choose to express your opinion on this issue, including on social media, we ask that you do not wear LSU gear or use LSU branding. [/perfectpullquote]

The email also urges players to show respect for their teammates and coaches who “may have different views than your own and many have personal connections and feelings about this case” and warns of intense scrutiny from the national and local media.

Former LSU coach Les Miles gathered his ‘Leadership Council’ in similar fashion to Orgeron when the shooting occurred last summer. He also spoke publicly about the state of things in Baton Rouge, both on ESPN and at SEC Media Days.

Several players, most notably star running back Leonard Fournette, who went fourth overall to Jacksonville in last weekend’s NFL Draft, spoke out on social media in the immediate aftermath. Fournette tweeted a photo of himself whereing a shirt honoring the 37-year-old Sterling. The tweet is shown below.

Alton sterling…. pic.twitter.com/mkkPnkFvT9

— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) July 7, 2016