A matter of respectI would like to briefly discuss and clarify a couple of issues brought forth in recent letters to the "Prince" regarding the incident that occurred during Gay Jeans Day Rally and its aftermath. Thomas H. Pyle '76 and Colin J. Campbell '98 have both sent various letters regarding what they consider to have been suppression of free speech. The issue at hand, however, is not about free speech and what people can or cannot say, but merely about the forum for such discourse. For example, a Christian student is certainly allowed to believe that Judaism is flawed for not recognizing Jesus, but to voice such views during Friday night services at the CJL is not appropriate. Also essential to this debate is the meaning of respect. Both Mr. Pyle and Mr. Campbell have conveniently avoided any mention of the fact that after having verbally attacked the LGBA during the aforementioned rally Ilya Shapiro made an appearance at the LGBA Coming Out Party wearing a skirt and making a spectacle of himself. It was clear to most participants that Mr. Shapiro's intention was not to engage in civil "open discourse" but to mock the event and its celebratory purpose and meaning. I would also like to point out that the Gay Jeans Day Rally occurred as one of the many events of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Awareness Week. During this week numerous presentations and discussions took place and complex issues of "Faith and Sexuality", the week's theme, were discussed with much civility despite differences in the views of audience members and presenters alike. Finally, I would like to highlight the fact that, as clarified in a note from Kathleen Deignan, Associate Dean of Student Life, "no member of the Student Life staff is an administrator or coordinator of a student organization." (3/31/97) Michelle Seldin is an intern who works with LGB students on campus regardless of their involvement with the LGBA, in the same way as there are various administrators that work with different segments of the student population (examples include the Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs and the Directors of the International Center, the Third World Center, and the Women's Center.) There is no University paid full-time "LGBA coordinator."
Tomás Amorim '99
Letter to the editors of The Daily Princetonian
published on April 16, 1997. |