To the Editor:
I am writing to respond to Dan Richman's patronizing and ignorant commentary ("Awareness Awareness Week," April 21, 1995) regarding the "plethora of advocacy" by certain groups. What he fails to recognize is that these individuals, who heighten awareness, provide an essential role on this campus. Raising consciousness on these issues is relevant to all of us, not simply those who have been victimized by sexual assault or happen to come "out of the closet."
His mocking tone and offensive language shows his utter contempt for these valid concerns. This is particularly upsetting to a person like me who has been actively engaged in both of these issues during my Dartmouth career. To cavalierly dismiss advocates for change by implying that they somehow lack "legitimacy" is a major reason why the problems of homophobia and sexual assault continue to plague this campus and society in general. In the future, I would hope Richman would be more respectful of his fellow students, who justly claim that "awareness" forces us all to challenge our own myths, stereotypes and misconceptions regarding these pervasive social issues.
It is unfortunate that this sort of honest dialogue does not occur every day of the year on this campus. Perhaps if it did, there would be less of a stigma placed upon those individuals who are simply decrying the fact that they have been "assaulted" for being what they are.
