To the Editor:
Two weeks ago some of the members of the Dartmouth Area Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Organization receive an anonymous flyer in their mailboxes proposing this question: "Is it okay to shoot homosexuals?" In response to this frightening and threatening piece of hate mail, DaGLO organized a community forum on campus homophobia. It was attended by students, faculty, staff and administrators who sincerely wished to discuss how we as a community might heal the wounds inflicted by those who hate and fear gay people.
An equally important purpose of the forum was to offer support to the students who were understandably frightened and upset by the flier.
Instead what happened is that a small group representing The Dartmouth Review hijacked the meeting. They dominated the discussion, asking one hostile question after another, putting gay and lesbian students on the defensive, insisting that no "hate" was intended by the flyer, that those on this campus who are offended or hurt by bigotry are emotionally immature, unable to take the heat. Gay, lesbian and bisexual students are the real offenders because they "flaunt" their sexual identities. When another student passionately disagreed with these sentiments, one of the Review staff audibly cried out that he was being silenced. More quietly, he cursed and threatened anyone who disagreed with him.
When this stream of hatred became too much for several lesbian students, who left the room in tears, the Review members smirked in satisfaction. They had accomplished their purpose, which was to sabotage any meaningful discussion about the legitimate concerns of gay, lesbian and bisexual students at Dartmouth.
Every year, gay, lesbian and bisexual students come to my office to tell me they are so emotionally exhausted by trying to survive in this place that they have decided to transfer to a friendlier institution. In the past I have tried to convince them to stay. Monday's disastrous forum has convinced me that I cannot, in good conscience, continue to do so. The climate on this campus is hostile and damaging to gay students.
I know that the majority of students on this campus are not haters. They subscribe neither to the sentiments expressed in the flyer nor to the tactics displayed on Monday by the Review. But it is the haters who have spoken loudest to gay, lesbian and bisexual students.
This letter is a plea to the majority of decent, caring Dartmouth students to reject bigotry by reaching out to your gay lesbian and bisexual colleagues. Tell them that you believe they have as much right to be on this campus as anyone else and that diversity is the strength of an educational institution. Only if the majority of students reject hatred and affirm community will the climate on this campus begin to change.
