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Some N.C. A&T officials had a hard time explaining how a rap act who glorifies violence, has had serious brushes with the law (including a murder arrest) and makes no secret of his affiliation with a well-known street gang was ever a headliner for homecoming.

Chancellor Harold Martin didn't.

When apprised of rapper Gucci Mane's checkered resume and violent themes, Martin immediately moved to pull the plug.

As of this writing Martin was working with attorneys to rescind the school's agreement with the performer. It may be costly financially. But it's the right choice.

A rap against Mane

Gucci Mane has made no secret of his ties with the well-known street gang, the Bloods. Two of his songs, "Blood In Blood Out" and "Same Red Rag," make that affiliation clear.

Like many rap artists, Mane also has a rap sheet. Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, has served a six-month prison sentence for striking a concert promoter in the head with a pool cue. In a separate incident, he turned himself in to DeKalb County, Ga., police in connection to the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man. The charges ultimately were dismissed for lack of evidence.

Mane also is known for flashing gang signs and for lyrics and CD titles that revel in drugs and violence. His latest album, subtly titled "Murder Was the Case" includes among its songs "Cuttin' Off Fingaz" and "Murder for Fun."

Most rappers are known for their amped bravado and bawdy lyrics, some of it manufactured to generate "street cred" -- and presumably, CD sales. But Gucci Mane's brushes with the law are all too real, making him a bad fit for a city that already is deeply concerned about gangs and violent crime, especially at A&T.

Campus crime concerns

In 2007 two A&T freshmen were stabbed after being confronted by three men allegedly for wearing the wrong "colors," behavior typically associated with gang members.

In April 2008, A&T student Derek Hodge II, 21, died after being shot during an apparent burglary.

In January of this year, another A&T student, Dennis Hayle, 22, was fatally shot outside his apartment near campus.

Three more A&T students were shot in August, also at an apartment complex near campus.

And while gangs haven't figured in all of the safety concerns at A&T, they are an issue. An A&T town hall meeting two years ago on the gang threat drew an overflow crowd.

In light of those back stories, bringing an act who promotes gang culture to the Greensboro Coliseum in A&T's name is both unwise and inappropriate. A&T's student government president, Syene Jasmin, saw that disconnect and apologized to the community in an interview last month with WXII (Channel 12). "It won't happen again," he said. "We won't have artists that compromise the integrity of our university."

Some A&T students were bothered by Jasmin's remarks. They should applaud his courage and candor.

Meanwhile, A&T officials should have learned this lesson already. It has come up before.

It came up in the case of R&B star R. Kelly, who performed here in the 2004 homecoming concert even as sexual assault charges in multiple states hung over his head. And it came up later in the case of rapper 50-Cent, whose appearance was canceled.

When some questioned R. Kelly's concert, then-A&T Chancellor James Renick said he had been unaware of the artist's legal troubles. "Frankly," he said, "of all the things I do on this university campus, concerts are a very low priority."

A better process

The current A&T chancellor, Martin, sees things differently. "In my mind," he said last week of Gucci Mane, "to have this artist at homecoming is inconsistent with what's good about our institution -- our history and our values."

Truth is, it shouldn't have come to this. A&T by now should have established a better process for selecting homecoming acts. As Martin conceded last week, the debate over Gucci Mane should have happened before any contracts were signed, not afterward.

Thankfully, Martin also made it clear that the selection process definitely will change next year. Better late than never.

Though some students may not like it, the administration ought to have input -- and veto power -- on any acts that perform in university-related events.

Kudos to Martin for protecting the integrity of A&T's name.

Kudos as well for the A&T students like Jasmin who had the conscience and fortitude to stand up for "Aggie Pride."