I am writing concerning the derisive flier that was sent to the Dartmouth Area Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Organization a few weeks ago. I was utterly shocked at the minimal response that such a tragic event generated from the student body. There was no large uproar of consternation or discontent. Many of the people I talked to were not even aware that something had occurred, and many of those that were aware expressed merely an empty statement of consolation or disapproval.
I was happy to know that there was a forum held on Monday night which was designed to address what had happened and what steps needed to be taken as a result of it. Unfortunately, though, only a small group of people showed up. Most of the discussion was monopolized by our esteemed conservatives who aggressively expressed their non-supportive, anti-gay sentiments. During the forum, at least three people left in tears as a result of hearing these insensitive remarks.
Why did such an offensive and blatantly prejudicial flier produce the results that it did? Most of the reaction seemed to center around either apathetic concern (if there is such a thing) or flagrant insensitivity.
What if someone had verbally attacked an ethnic or a religious organization on campus? I am sure if a racial flyer were sent to Afro-American Society or a religious slur were sent to Hillel, the response would have been overwhelming and rightfully so. There no doubt would have been a general sentiment of concern throughout the student body with many individuals voicing their opinions. And I dare say that even our esteemed conservatives on this campus would have turned their attention to the matter.
But what is the real difference between such a flyer and the one that was sent to DaGLO? Both consist of prejudicial statements attacking a minority group. This seems to be more than enough to warrant our undivided attention and involvement.
After talking with a friend on the subject, I found that his concern for what had transpired went only as far as his lack of interest in the subject. But when I asked him how he would have felt had a similar flyer been sent to an ethnic organization on campus, he rather unassumingly said he would have been genuinely interested in getting involved.
The fact that he felt it was acceptable to hold both beliefs simultaneously is unsettling. How can such a set of statements be anything but utter hypocrisy? It seems contradictory (or a blatant double-standard) for a person to accept the claim that only racial or religious prejudice warrants appropriate action while prejudice against homosexuals does not.
I would not be writing this editorial if I felt my friend were the only one at Dartmouth who thinks like this. Most students accept that racial and religious propaganda attacking a group on campus has no place in an academic setting, and indeed no place in any setting. They would vehemently oppose any such violation.
But a similar violation against a gay and lesbian organization does not produce the same effect. I suspect that many heterosexual students are too preoccupied with what their friends would think if it became known that they had supported a gay and lesbian cause; they forget how important such an issue really is.
I ask them, "what would be worse?" For someone to think that you are "uncool" for supporting such a cause or for you to remain apathetic thereby continues to fuel the fire of homophobia. As a heterosexual student, I firmly believe the rewards of the former far out weigh the dubious rewards of the latter.
Any instance of bigotry and prejudice, regardless of what organization it is directed toward, deserves our collective attention. But by the response to the flier it seems that the tacit assumption is that discrimination aimed against homosexuals is acceptable -- or, at the very least, should not be treated with the same severity as discrimination against religious or ethnic groups on campus.
The only thing I can conclude is that the Dartmouth community has not fully embraced the principles of diversity and acceptance -- those very principles we pride ourselves on upholding.
