Sign about Tech shooting brings complaints at UGA

Students object to poster asking if shots were justified.

A sign displayed outside the Tate Student Center at the University of Georgia Wednesday shocked some students. Set up like a poll, it asked students whether the shooting of Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz by Tech police on Saturday was a “clean shoot.”

“Today this sign was on campus at UGA. Front and center in the student center’s outdoor space. I’m outraged by this, as are many students here,” said UGA senior Alli Carton.

Carton reached out to UGA administration in an email, explaining: “I am not sure which student organization had this on display, but no matter what group decided to ask this, it’s a horrible display of what we stand for here at UGA. It goes against everything this institution should stand for. Nothing about this question is useful to student life here and makes the tragic incident about politics and personal beliefs rather than the education that needs to be in place in situations like this.”

On Thursday, UGA spokesman Gregory Trevor said, “The sign was located in the Tate Student Center Plaza, an open area of campus where expressive activity is permitted in accordance with the First Amendment. Although the language on this sign was insensitive and offensive to many members of the university community, it is protected expression. We do not know who posted the sign, but we do know that it was voluntarily removed. “

The sign is spurring debate on social media between those who believe it was crass and those who believe it asked the obvious question about whether the shooting at Tech was justified.

Carton is now planning an event at UGA to show support to Tech.

CONTRIBUTED This sign Wednesday at UGA about the shooting death of a Georgia Tech student upset some students who deemed it insensitive and offensive.