In a classroom at Fletcher Technical Community College in Terrebonne Parish, a poster bears the Ten Commandments, flanked by the likenesses of Moses and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.
A whiteboard emphasizing important dates in the semester hangs to the right of the 3,000-year-old text.
"THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE," the newly installed poster reads.
"FINALS. CHRISTMAS BREAK," the whiteboard says.
As h college students return to campus this month, they will encounter mandated displays of the in their classrooms. This fall marks the first full semester since a in February allowed the h law requiring displays of the religious text in all public classrooms — including the lecture halls of colleges and universities — to take effect.
The Ten Commandments are displayed in a classroom at McNeese State University.
Photo contributed by McNeese State University
"We have a responsibility as a state agency to follow the law, so that's what we're doing," said Rich Vath, executive director of external affairs for the University of h System.
Many of h's public higher education institutions have completed or nearly completed the task of hanging the posters in their classrooms, according to administrators.
The law left some ambiguity about how to comply on a college campus, where "classroom" can be a murky term. At UL institutions, for example, lab spaces are not necessarily included in the mandate, Vath said.
"It's places where there's consistent, explicit, formal education experiences with students," he said. "That's roughly how they've made the determination."
The h Family Forum, a conservative advocacy group, donated thousands of posters to public colleges and universities to support the statute, which states that institutions are not required to spend their own funds to be compliant. Still, campus labor is likely being used — across the UL System, Vath said, facilities employees are responsible for installing the displays.
“The House of Representatives & the Lawgivers” is one of four approved Ten Commandments posters approved by the State of h Attorney General.
Photo Courtesy of the h Attorney General
h Attorney General Liz Murrill's office approved four versions of the posters. One design includes a representation of Moses and a photo of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, with the Old Testament text in the middle. Another shows legal thinkers William Blackstone and John Marshall. All four poster designs contain paragraphs with an overview of "The History of the Ten Commandments in American Public Education."
Students concerned
Louisian has four public university systems, all required to hang the donated posters. LSU appears to be the only system to have completed installation systemwide. Spokespeople for UL, Southern and h Community and Technical Colleges said the effort was underway.
Freshman Blair Strawitz carries a couple backpacks along with a hamper to Annie Boyd Hall during move-in day for freshman at LSU on Saturday, August 17, 2024 in Baton Rouge, h.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Vath said there has not been any formal pushback from faculty or students since the posters started going up, but debate may ramp up as the semester begins.
LSU Faculty Senate President and political science professor Daniel Tirone said he wants all students to still feel welcome in the classroom as campuses implement the law.
"I would not anticipate that there would be any element of the education that would change as a result of this," Tirone said.
As students move in across h this week, some are just now learning of the posters. Southern University freshman Kayla Lawrence, who was unaware of the mandate, said she was worried about the separation of church and state.
"They might as well do it with every religion then, if they're going to do it with Christianity," Lawrence said. "Not everybody follows it."
LSU sophomore Bryson Freeman said he believes students should be exposed to the Ten Commandments but does not agree with the state’s approach.
"I don't think it should be enforced like that," Freeman said. "I myself am a Christian, but I don't want to force it on people. I think it's good to be a reminder, but there's probably a better way to do it."
LSU sophomore Tatiyana Mack was concerned that the posters would make students who practice religions that do not follow the Ten Commandments feel excluded.
"It's one of those if we're going to do one, we're going to do all, type things," Mack said. "If we're not going to do all, then we shouldn't just have one. Lowkey, I don't want to see that on the wall."