September 5, 1996

Gregory M. St. L. O'Brien, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148

Dear Dr. O'Brien:

Regarding the unfortunate and blatantly racist remarks of Edward Miller, Ph.D. and your response. I am shocked, surprised and insulted that you, my friend would couch your response to Dr. Miller's remarks in the 1st amendment to the Constitution freedom of speech guarantees. As a college graduate I understand that it is critical to the success of any university that there be an atmosphere for the free exchange of thoughts and ideas.

However, I have also been taught that these ideas must be grounded in truth and fact. Further it has also been my understanding that the charge of any successful institution of higher education is the pursuit of knowledge and truth, and these principals go hand in hand.

Your apparent failure to repudiate Dr. Miller's racist comments is an insult to the African American community. His theory, which is clearly specious and often disproved by more credible research, is one that flies in the face of everything I have been taught that a university should be. Dr. Miller may choose to cling to the ridiculous concepts because of his prejudice and racism, however it is a completely different issue for the Chancellor of the University of New Orleans to not clearly send a message to the entire community that this theory caries no weight in the UNO community. Your paultry response to Dr. Miller's remarks in my mind raises questions about the validity of everything that goes on at your university. It also leaves me to challenge your university’s true motives in the involvement of such things as Metrovision and B.G.R.

When I review your quest for a scientific research park for UNO, I now must view this in a different light. I must now question whether the research results which will come out of your park will be as specious as Dr. Miller's theory, which has apparently gained shelter and sustenance at your university.

In a community so divided by race and racism, the last place I expected to hear such "off-the-waII" theory and theoreticians was at one of our universities. Even more shocking was the timidity with which you dealt with this matter. I believe it is incumbent on you to make a public and forceful statement denouncing Dr. Miller and his dangerous and racist assertions and let the courts protect his 1st Amendment rights. Anything less would leave myself and the African American community questioning where the University of New Orleans really stands on matters of racism.

Sincerely,

Paul R. Valteau, Jr.
Civil Sheriff

Cc: Dr. Raphel Casimere

NAACP