Student leader urges LSU board to reopen cultural centers, restore staff and DEI programs

Zia Risa, vice president of Students for a Democratic Society at LSU, used her public-comment time to lay out a list of student demands the board should address, saying the administration has closed key student spaces and cut resources. “When you cut funding for the women's center and the African American cultural center, is that what you spent the money on?” she asked, urging the board to “listen to the students because we know what needs to change at LSU.”

Risa listed specific requests: reopen Unity Field; restore and maintain independence for the African American Cultural Center, the women's center, and the office of multicultural affairs; return student workers to those centers; increase parking and transportation; and reinstate DEI programs. The speaker also demanded “full transparency from the university about the management of and changes made to all cultural centers.”

Board chair (speaker 2) responded that board members bought their own chairs and offered recurring office hours for students, saying “If y'all wanna come talk to me, you're more than welcome. Every Thursday. Just call Monique and make an appointment.” He thanked the speaker for the comments and moved the meeting forward. The board did not announce any immediate policy changes in response at the meeting.

Why it matters: students’ demands aim at campus climate, access to support services and staff employment—issues that affect student retention, compliance with accreditation expectations for student services, and campus public perception. The board accepted the public comment but took no formal action during the session; follow-up would require administrative or later board consideration.