To the Editor:
Apropos "Wright won't sign tolerance petition" (The Dartmouth, Oct. 8), I would like to clarify the stance of Al-Nur, Muslim Student Association at Dartmouth College, and my own personal viewpoint on the recent "intimidation-free" campuses petition initiated by James Freedman, former President of Dartmouth College.
Al-Nur supports human rights, justice, free speech and anti-discrimination efforts in forms that encourage a better understanding of the differences between the various communities and religions. The statement on "intimidation-free" campuses has a very noble principle -- promoting "intimidation-free" campuses -- but only addresses the discrimination faced by Jewish students. It does not seek to prevent hate-crimes against other religious and social minorities, including African-Americans, Latin-Americans, Asian-Americans, Muslims and others. Thus, Al-Nur finds the petition too lopsided to serve the purpose it is meant for.
However, we do believe that once the petition is broadened to include all minorities, it will serve to maintain "academic integrity" on college campuses.
Al-Nur praises President Wright's concern for other minorities.
Personally, I do not see any reason for adopting a petition that seeks to stifle discourse among college students. The petition seeks at once to protect the Jewish students on college campuses but at the same time makes no mention of other minorities -- in other words, it condones hate-crimes against other minorities, something that I find totally unacceptable. Amin Plaisted, former advisor to Al-Nur, has very aptly said that "It would seem to be a petition that encourages and invites exactly what it claims should stop, perhaps a self-fulfilling prophecy."
