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The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

Rainbow Alliance Attacked: Danger Zone

A hate crime occurred in the Busch Student Center one month ago, and nobody did a thing about until this week.
On Oct. 9, 2006, an unnamed University professor berated four Rainbow Alliance members manning a table in the BSC. He purportedly assaulted the students, shouting that God did not approve of their lifestyles. He brought a few students to tears as he sparred with them, firing Bible verses for 45 minutes.
Here’s the problem: when he finally walked away, nobody tried to stop him. Students said nothing. The professor filed no report. He walked back to his office, and Rainbow Alliance members and BSC bystanders simply turned blind eyes and walked away from hate speech.
This University professor’s behavior is unacceptable. Yes, he is entitled to his own opinion, but the manner in which he expressed this opinion-shouting at students in their own meeting-place-was spiteful and immature.
If the professor genuinely wished to argue the merit of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender lifestyles, he could have set up a formal debate or submitted a paper to the Marriage, Family, Sex and Kids undergraduate research conference scheduled for this weekend. Apparently, this was not his intention. He only meant to target students and spread hate.
His credibility, whether in terms of class grading policy or personal relationships with students and colleagues, is permanently marred. For these reasons, we demand that he resign his professorship or, if he will not leave voluntarily, that he be immediately dismissed.
The Busch Student Center was not marked with a “GLBT Safe-Zone” flyer indicating its openness to alternative lifestyles. It shouldn’t need one. Our entire campus should be “safe” for all students, no matter their sexual orientation, religious background, race, gender or favorite color.
Furthermore, affected students should have spoken out sooner. No victim of a hate crime that transpires at SLU should be afraid to address the issue, and address it as soon as possible.
Justice for situations like this one should arrive immediately, not after a month of silence.

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