If you haven’t heard, Dillard University student Marguerite Washington was tragically killed in New Orleans last week. An 18-year-old freshman, killed by an accident murderer aiming for her boyfriend.

Outrage and sadness have been the understandable reactions. A voice emerging from the din has been that of Dillard President Walter Kimbrough. Dr. Kimbrough delivered remarks at the all-too premature funeral on October 6, and posted them on his blog. An excerpt:

We all need to be committed to flipping the script. We must find out what we can do to stop this violence. We have to stop accepting this as normal. In fact, we need to have the same kind of concern and outrage with Marguerite’s murder as we did with Trayvon’s. If we only get mad when George Zimmerman kills, we’re not serious about making our community better.

In Arkansas, Kimbrough took a small liberal arts college and helped hew for it a niche in the global discussion on social justice. New Orleans has no shortage of challenges overwhelmingly pillaging communities of color. Violence, poverty, political displacement and isolation sit upon the top of the heap.

New Orleans needed a new voice to address its most pressing issues. Just over 90 days into office, that voice has begun to speak out.

Dillard University Dr. Walter Kimbrough