LSU deletes crosses from fan photo
The Painted Posse wears crosses on their chests -- but not in this photo. (LSU Athletic Dept.)
According to Fox News, LSU officials sent out a photo of the group of fans, the so-called Painted Posse, in a campus e-mail about the Tigers’ victory over South Carolina Oct. 13.
The Painted Posse is a group of Christian students who paint their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses. The e-mail shows the group at the game, but the crosses had been digitally removed.
“I was a bit surprised, because our pictures get used so frequently, and the cross had never been edited before,” Posse member Cameron Cooke told the website CampusReform.org. “The cross painting is important to me because it represents who I am as a Christ follower. And it reminds me who I need to act like in Death Valley,” he said.
“I knew from the second I was old enough to know that I was going to LSU,” another Posse member, Joel D’Aubin, told NBC33 in Baton Rouge. “And we all have a passion for LSU football and for Christ. Just being able to be that example every single Saturday is an awesome experience.”
School spokesman Herb Vincent told the site the school altered the image to prevent other students from being offended.
“We don’t want to imply we are making any religious or political statements, so we air-brushed it out,” the school said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. “Only one of the students, who didn’t appreciate it, actually contacted us about it. So next time, we’ll just choose a different photo.”
But the statement went on to acknowledge the deletion was a mistake.
“We erred in our judgment and we have communicated our apologies to the group of young men represented in the photo whose school spirit is second to none.”
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294 comments Add your comment
joe
October 23rd, 2012
10:00 am
Go LSU, Beat those inbred Bama-ites.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
Quite the contrary RGB. I’m a Christian who does my best to live by the teachings of Jesus. Wearing a cross around my neck does nothing that I can see to further the gospel. Certainly rolling out the victim card at every corner doesn’t do it.
I also realize that I live in a country with a lot of people who don’t have the same beliefs that I do. I do my best to love them and be charitable, not throw my beliefs in their faces. I can do the work of Jesus just fine without worrying about what the government.
GFY
October 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
Some little student in the editing department is going to wish they had not taken their petty pleasure and airbrushed out the crosses….
GFY
October 23rd, 2012
10:02 am
Duke Blue Devils might be in a little trouble then if they are worried about “offending” someone…..lol
GFY
October 23rd, 2012
10:04 am
New Jersey Devils are going to have to change their mascot as well…..along with any team named the Diablos…..get ready Washington Redskins…..PC police coming to see you….
Cliff
October 23rd, 2012
10:04 am
Try reading the Constitution and US Supreme Court decisions and you might be able to understand that it’s been settled for decades that there is freedom from religion in this country; it’s not even debatable. As I said above, it’s not freedom from all religion, and as I said above, the concept doesn’t seem to apply to this LSU issue.
Dudder
October 23rd, 2012
10:06 am
Hey “suicide fart”, I would not be surprised to find that you were one of those “non-idiots” who stood outside of an Apple store for hours to buy a telephone. Oh, the saving grace in that.
Special K
October 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
I hope we as pup, bama, tiger fans etc can agree this is insane. I have just been insulted as a Christian.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
Cliff – to be clear on my posts, I think someone at LSU felt this could be an endorsement of religion and that’s why the crosses were brushed out. Complete speculation on my part.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
Cliff it is DEBATABLE…..When something is WRONG it is wrong.
DawgFan01
October 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
Go to HELL LSU.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
yes, lsu was right – crosses have no place in an email from the lsu football program.
however, rather than alter the image, they should have just used another picture.
everyone else should put their big boy pants on and stop looking for reasons to be offended.
Cliff
October 23rd, 2012
10:11 am
gatag – Gotcha. Personally, I’m not sure that allowing a cross in a picture is endorsing a religion, but I can see that position. On the other hand, it is certainly within LSU’s discretion to not show pictures of crosses, and I certainly don’t see that as offensive either.
Brewster
October 23rd, 2012
10:11 am
What out for Halloween coming up – “religious” symbols galore!
Peace
October 23rd, 2012
10:12 am
I guess the LSU officials overlooked those images showing Muslim women wearing the hijab. I’m offended.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:12 am
and for those who believe that the bible is the literal word of god, you should try rereading these parts:
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” – Matthew 6:5
*thanks to “mara” for the quotes
Obama Supporter
October 23rd, 2012
10:12 am
Vote for Obama.
It is easier than getting a job.
1776
October 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Typical cultural marxism on the campus of institutes of higher indoctrination. Reminds me of Mississippi disengaging themselves from Colonel Reb. They went from the Ole Miss Rebels to the “New Miss Conformists”.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Cliff………do you Believe you OWN all the stuff you buy in the US? The US Supreme Court is deciding if you actually OWN anything. Check this case before the court and tell me you think the Court has a BRAIN.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxZ1g3-2qKU&feature=share
Dave in Marietta
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Cliff, Christians have no use for the constitution. So it’s a pointless argument. Their goal in life is to have Christianity to trump the constitution and make us live by means of theocracy, not democracy. It’s their way or the highway. So I am delighted every time one of them gets their holy noses tweaked something like this incident.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Cliff sorry try this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxZ1g3-2qKU&feature=share
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Hello red herring.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:20 am
Dave in Marietta
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Their goal in life is to have Christianity to trump the constitution and make us live by means of theocracy, not democracy.
————————————————————
Where do you live that DEMOCRACY is the way of life? You don’t live in the US. The US has NOTHING to do with Democracy.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
Dave in Marietta
October 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Another CLASSIC government school educated fool that thinks the US is a Democracy. dude put your head out. You have been indoctrination to think the US is something it is not.
Cliff
October 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
5150 UOAD` – I’m not sure I completely followed the issues in that case. Copyright is a tricky area of law. You have real property (land, buildings, etc.), tangible personal property, and intangible personal property. Along with the different types of property, there are different types of ownership: fee simple, leasehold, license, etc. Then on top of that, there are security interests like liens and mortgages.
So, to you answer your question, I don’t completely know what my rights are in all the different types of property I buy. However, I think it’s too early to criticize the Supreme Court on that case, if they haven’t ruled yet.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:23 am
the US is not a democracy?
errr, where did you get your civcs/government education exactly?
here, try to learn something today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_democracy
you’re welcome.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:27 am
To YOU FOOLS do you even KNOW what LSU was FOUNDED AS?
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[7] The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy.
Notice SEMINARY was a reason for founding the COLLEGE but NOW they wish to eliminate CHRIST?
just sayin'
October 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
It’s called freedom of expression. If the school had a problem, just use another photo. Don’t alter the photo, as that is censorship.
However, be sure that ANY other religious symbol is NOT in the picture.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
“they wish to eliminate CHRIST”
jesus, please help this moron.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
I’m not sure what to tell you. Maybe one of your points will stick sooner or later.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:31 am
The use of the Word SEMINARY implies something different than a College or University.
Robyn Cromer
October 23rd, 2012
10:33 am
Herb Vincent said he did not want the crosses to offend anyone. Mr. Vincent need I remind you America was founded on Christianity.
Are you from America or just another transplant? I am an American Christian and you REALLY OFFENDED ME.
LEAVE THE CROSSES alone!!! Put them back on the shirts and rerun the photos. SHAME ON YOU!!!
Robyn Cromer
October 23rd, 2012
10:33 am
Herb Vincent said he did not want the crosses to offend anyone. Mr. Vincent need I remind you America was founded on Christianity.
Are you from America or just another transplant? I am an American Christian and you REALLY OFFENDED ME.
LEAVE THE CROSSES alone!!! Put them back on the shirts and rerun the photos. SHAME ON YOU!!!
Dave in Marietta
October 23rd, 2012
10:33 am
Here’s what Billy Graham stated in an ad he’s paying for: Graham is urging Americans to vote for candidates who base their decisions on “biblical principles,” “support the nation of Israel,” “protect the sanctity of life,” and “support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman.”
That’s all he wants people to base their vote on. to hell with the rest of the issues and problems facing the country. As long is it’s biblical, vote for it and ignore everything else. The religious right has perverted the Bible to use it for their narrow minded purposes while Republican leadership is selling this country to the highest corporate bidder and screwing its constituency in the process. But as long as you through out a few buzzwords like Graham is doing, the zealots are happy.
And 5150, I’ll go to my grave clinging to the constitution knowing that it stands for Democracy. If this country is anything less than that, then it is a corpocracy thanks to the Republican Party being the corporate shills that they are.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:35 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Seminary_of_Learning_%26_Military_Academy
it was a military college. not what we think of as a seminary today. seriously, dude, try to learn something today.
wow, with clowns like this making the argument for crosses in all of lsu’s football pictures, they HAVE to start doing that, right?
what a joke. keep ‘em coming “5150 urin*te on a dog. such a classy, smart fellow.
gtalum06
October 23rd, 2012
10:35 am
I find it funny how it seems only Christian things can be considered possibly offensive and infringing on others’ rights. Freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion… If LSU was a private institution, then maybe they do have the right to play big brother. As a public institution, they should follow the same rules as others… we live in a free country. If I want to wear a cross, a star of David, or any other symbol of my beliefs, I live in a nation that allows me to freely do that.
I’m personally offended by Honey Boo Boo, can somebody erase her? I’m offended by almost all reality television, actually.. but that stuff is shoved down my throat. Heaven forbid somebody choose to quietly (yes, quietly) express their faith by simply painting a cross on their chest (my cross is in tattoo form on my side, actually). If reality tv has the right to exist, then people definitely have the right to not have their own symbols of faith not erased from photos! We might as well be North Korea…
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:35 am
http://www…………….the US is a Representative Republic……You will NEVER read anything that say the US is a Democracy.
Democracy is MOB RULE and the Founding Fathers were against that.
Until after WWII the US considered Democracy as bad as Marxism, Communism and Socialism among other forms of government. the US like democracy in other countries because it allow the make friends with the poor to help over throw a government we disagree with.
Cliff
October 23rd, 2012
10:35 am
“The use of the Word SEMINARY implies something different than a College or University.”
That’s true, but what does subsequently deleting the word seminary imply?
Tech dropout
October 23rd, 2012
10:36 am
I think you people have missed the point. LSU did not want to appear as if it is endorsing the Christian religion. LSU should have just chose another picture to use.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:36 am
“Robyn Cromer”, i’m sorry that you’re so ill-informed that you think “America was founded on Christianity”
try to pick up a history book sometime and you’ll quickly learn the exact opposite was true.
Steve)
October 23rd, 2012
10:37 am
Christians: America’s Victims.
When will their nightmare of oppression end?
Warrior Woman
October 23rd, 2012
10:38 am
@Brand Naming – You have it backwards – LSU was freeloading off these students, by using their image in promotional materials. The university was completely wrong to airbrush the photos and would not have done so if the symbol had been something other than the cross.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:38 am
5150, u sound dumber with every post.
stop ranting and read the wikipedia link about representative democracy and learn something new for a change.
Mr. Obvious
October 23rd, 2012
10:38 am
I bet Jerry Sandusky wishes the experts at LSU could help him “Airbrush Out” those documented court testimonies of his victims.
LeneBean
October 23rd, 2012
10:38 am
I dont think the intent was to be offensive. I think the intent was, as a university, to not appear to be advocating for only one religion. In my opinion, they should have just chose another picture, but maybe this was one of the best pictures they had. I wouldnt have been offended by the cross being there, however, I was raised Baptist. However, had there been a Koran or something of that nature, I’m sure it would have been airbrushed as well, and we would just be hearing the same backlash from Muslims.
We have to just understand that this isnt a PERSON that is posting the pic, but an institution, where many different religions, races, and creeds attend. I dont think it was malicious intent, it just came off that way (the airbrushing was a bit much.)
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:39 am
Dave – one of my favorite aspects of this presidential race is the decision of the conservative Christian. Most that I know prefer to vote for someone who does not share their beliefs over someone who does share their beliefs but is a democrat. I know someone will tell me he’s a Muslim but he does profess to be a Christian.
sorry for the tangent. I hate it when someone makes it about politics and I’m doing it myself!
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
10:39 am
The US is Not and Never will be a Democracy.
Devil's Advocate
October 23rd, 2012
10:39 am
Could this threat sway the election in 2 weeks?
LOL.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
10:42 am
I need some help here – which students were not allowed to wear crosses? It keeps getting mentioned here but I didn’t read that in the article.
www
October 23rd, 2012
10:42 am
one more time, for the really slow commenters (oh hi, 5150 urin*te on a dog):
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_is_the_United_States_a_representative_democracy
this time it is spelled out for ya in very simple english:
“The United States is a multi-faceted Representative Democracy: we elect representatives in many aspects of our government form, all of which have specific duties and limits on power. “