It's not often that a college campus a thousand miles away can affect students in Madison, but that is not to say that we shouldn't be concerned with what other students are doing outside of our little bubble. Two weeks ago, an issue arose on the Louisiana State University campus that really should demand our attention.
It seems that LSU football fans have a long standing tradition of both tailgating on top of and eventually sliding down a set of Native American mounds on campus. As it turns out, these relatively unknown 6,000-year-old mounds are the oldest structures of their kind in all of North America—even older than Stonehenge in England.
For the record, our very own UW-Madison campus has one of the most extensive collections of burial mounds in all of the United States. In fact, two of the most significant burial sites can be found right atop of Observatory Hill next to the Washburn Observatory.
Concerned students and faculty at the university in Baton Rouge worry that the abusive activity inflicted by game day crowds will cause damage to the already old and fragile mounds. And they aren't without good reason. They convinced administrative officials to rope off the area for the team's first football game against Mississippi State on Sept. 18. These protective ropes appeared again only a week later for the Tiger's next home game against West Virginia.
However, on the morning of that second game, LSU Landscape Services were ordered to remove the ropes. Once again, football fans were allowed to storm these Native American ceremonial sites and continue their usual traditions of tailgating on top of the ancient mounds.
Some professors and a large group of concerned anthropology and geology students were understandably upset with the university's decision to remove the ropes.
The university did allow the concerned group of students and faculty to leave signs near the site reading, ""Help preserve the mounds."" Within hours though, the signs themselves became sleds for fans and children playing on the hill.
While the LSU administration later said the ropes were removed for safety concerns, they still did nothing to otherwise prevent or discourage the tailgating masses from trampling all over the mounds on game day.
It is time for LSU students, alumni and visitors to have some respect for the ancient Native American mounds on their campus. These sites, officially on the National Register of Historic places, will not remain a part of Louisiana's history much longer if people continue to treat them the way they are now. And no, respect does not include beers and hamburgers.
Following the situation during the West Virginia game, university officials announced that from now on, they would fence off the area on game days in hopes of preventing further significant damage and disrespect.
Though the greater community may not completely agree, this administrative decision shows sensitivity to the culture and the historic sites.
The issue remains though of those fans who argue and whine about the inconvenient role these mounds play in terms of interfereing with the tradition of game day. Some critics say their children have been sliding down the mounds their whole lives, and to prevent fans from playing on them would destroy the fabrics of their own histories.
But really, this idea of trampling over a ceremonial site three millennia old for recreation today is simply puzzling. Do people not realize, or rather just not care about the importance and historical significance of these structures, especially the two on LSU's campus which have stood for so many centuries? Are they really worth sledding and some hot dogs?
Some people say it's a tradition. Sure, I'll give you that one. For those of you who do argue from that perspective, you have some real fine traditions in Louisiana of disrespect, ignorance and insensitivity.
While I appreciate the efforts of those working to preserve these historical structures, unfortunately, to the rest of the country, the people of LSU and the Baton Rouge community come off as incredibly insensitive and degrading idiots.
The LSU administration has made the right move by fencing off the site during football games. But for the rest of those who insist on destroying historical landmarks, I challenge you to adopt a few new traditions—traditions of understanding, traditions of self-control, and a tradition of respect.
Mark Bennett is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalsim. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com
