Post Classifieds

Students sound off on recent GSA, H.O.M.E. tensions

Letters to the editor

On March 9, 2013

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Editors note: All letters to the editor are welcome and can be sent to phoenix@govst.edu. Please keep all letters to the editor around 350 words, and please note that all letters will be edited for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Any profanities will be edited out.

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To the Editor:

Let's talk about political correctness. If HOME is politically incorrect then they are framing themselves as some kind of rebels fighting for free speech! But they didn't fight for free speech; they asked for it and received it. It's a closed loop. HOME filled out paperwork, which was ran through the school. They were given a space, they said what they wanted to say for two days and left. HOME received freedom of speech, and now they are claiming it was barred from them by a homosexual hate group? It's like if you went to the store and bought teddy bear, and then wrote a letter to the store saying that you weren't allowed to buy the teddy bear you already own. Maybe HOME is implying that freedom of speech is the right to say anything you'd like without repercussions? Speech free from accountability is speech that cannot stand on its own ground. It is like a child who after turning 50, still needs to hold on to their mothers hand to cross the street.

Let's talk about refusing to debate. No one refused to debate. Several students had calm discussions, and most had loud, frustrating arguments. At no time was a space on campus refused to HOME. At no time was the opportunity to debate refused. The claim that GSU and/or as Wayne calls them Gay Pride Hate Groups at GSU refused to debate with HOME is a false claim. At no point in time in the last two years of attending near every Gay Straight Alliance meeting did anyone ever discuss or talk about HOME (except me and how angry I was when they came to campus the first time) or debating with them. We like to have fun activities!

Let's talk about censorship. Wayne makes the claim that there are rabid hateful groups of homosexuals who are censoring the liberal and righteous ideas of a harmless group of a few men, but he doesn't say how it was censored or what idea was being censored. Ironically, calling HOME homophobes and bigots, (I don't think I heard a single person use the word Neanderthal) aren't just politically correct, they accurately describe the folks from HOME. If the label says "peanut butter" and peanut butter is inside the jar, it's a fair statement that what you have is a jar of peanut butter. So, if you have hate mongers that are spreading lies about homosexuals and lesbians, what you have is a hateful group of homophobes and bigots. HOME did more to censor their own ideas by not providing the peer reviewed sources for their claims than any student did. In a response to one of my questions on the first day, one of the men from HOME pulled out this creepy little three ring binder of paper, and read a paragraph of statistics that were written by hand in pencil. If I pulled that kind of crap on one of my papers for class, then I would be in all sorts of trouble.

Let's talk about history. The conflicts on student campuses during the 1960's were due to students fighting for the right to speak against the Vietnam War. If HOME is the righteous champion of free speech does this mean they are threatening to start a riot on our campus?

Let's talk about hate groups. Let's picture the absurdity of the KKK or a neo-Nazi group doing a Valentine's Day bake sale in the style that the Gay Straight Alliance did. Let's picture a bunch of neo-Nazis with swastikas tattooed on their forehead arriving early to GSU to set up a table and decorate a table. Let's picture a tri-fold full of neo-Nazi couples kissing each other celebrating Nazi love! Let's picture a group of KKK members patiently swirling the frosting on the cupcakes in the atrium, so that they are just right. Let's picture a man in a giant white ghost cloak putting little hearts on sticks into each cupcake. Let's picture a bunch of neo-Nazis watching Illinois vote Yes, that its ok for two racists to marry and have same rights as others that get married. Let's picture a delicate white supremacist hand slowly lifting a cupcake to place pink heart shaped doilies under them. It's absurd, but if neo-Nazi's took on the behavior of the Gay Straight Alliance they would cease being a hate group, and become a love group with counterproductive tattoos. Besides, Hate Groups don't make cupcakes!

Let's talk about the intolerant environment on campus caused by the Gay Straight Alliance. I'd like to offer a challenge. For every student that could produce a legitimate grievance about intolerance that was directly caused by the Gay Straight Alliance, I will bake one heart shaped, rainbow frosted cookie with fabulous sprinkles.

William S.

To the Editor:

I have a confession.

Last week when I arrived on campus, I saw a table set up near the cafeteria. I approached it as I do when I see that any group or club has a table. My initial response was one of disgust and disappointment when I saw that members of the group H.O.M.E. were stationed there. The information they had displayed on their table was offensive, not factual, and insulting. Even as a straight woman, I felt attacked by their presence on our campus. They had nothing positive to offer. Their stance was closed minded, condescending and there was zero proof to back up any of their outrages claims. I felt that they were insulting and attacking my fellow classmates and friends. I was beyond upset. How could a university, OUR University, let a group like this take up space in our student area?

I sat there before class that night letting my anger eat at me, trying to figure out who to call or what I could do to make sure that groups like this would be banned from our student area. I wrote a letter to the assistant dean inquiring about the approval process that allowed this group on our campus. I received the polite response I expected, but there was one sentence that made me realize that I was wrong about wanting to ban groups like HOME from our campus.

"I look forward to using this experience as a way to both increase student activism and address important policy issues at GSU!"

And then it was clear as day. I had been so focused on hating HOME that I failed to see that their presence was actually rallying our student body to unite and celebrate the strength in our diversity. Prior to that night, I had no idea that a Gay Straight Alliance existed on our campus. But because of HOME, students from GSA were circulating the cafeteria and talking to those gathered. Once I saw the positive effect HOME actually had on campus, I realized they severely underestimated the intelligence of our students. HOME gave us a reason to get active, to find our voices and to come together. I have met more students outside of my classroom in the past week than I have in the past year. I have watched the leadership of all the campus groups unite together. For the first time since I came back to school, I feel like I am a part of a united community. Do groups like HOME still upset me, absolutely. But now I see their presence as a reason and a reminder that I must be active and get involved.

I'm proud that our university supports a "public square" philosophy as its central mission. I can think of no better opportunity to encourage students to find their voice and work together to better our community and experience together. This very philosophy creates an environment that protects and encourages our rights to organize and be heard. It's a right that I have been guilty of taking for granted.

To the University, thank you for your commitment to our educational experience in and out of the classroom.

To the members of HOME, thank you for reminding me of my rights and awakening the beast inside.

To my fellow classmates, let's find our voices and be heard.

Danielle LeMonnier