LSU photo-editing flap garners national attention

It’s not often that the LSU Athletics Department’s Geaux-Mail newsletter garners much attention outside those who receive the weekly email blast of Tigers-related news and tidbits. But the one sent out Oct. 15 is beginning to garner national headlines—and not for what’s in the newsletter, but what isn’t. It turns out LSU officials used a photo of a group of Christian students who call themselves “The Painted Posse” in the newsletter that was altered to exclude small crosses the students had painted on their bodies along with the Tigers’ colors. Today, Fox News and NBC Sports were among those who are taking the story national after a few local media outlets reported the story last week. In response, LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent issued a statement to Daily Report saying: “In messages to sports fans we attempt to convey no religious or political messaging. We did not intend to offend anyone by the editing of this photograph and in the future we will use another photo rather than make a similar edit. 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.”