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Show UVU's discrimination policies currently do not protect homosexuals. We feel this is wrong. Vat12710% TO THE ON vaetx oG D■ cceR-svit-110 eitces 1 (Aloes, cizevOs DR. C..ay.wia-t5 By MATTHEW JONASSAINT Opinions Writer Dear downwithgays74, I know who you are. I don't see you often, but often enough to make an impression on you. It's a strong one, I can tell. Friends, ones truer than you, ask me if I've heard what you've done or said recently. We are almost like old friends. We talk about one another as often as possible but choose to avoid one another as often as possible. I see you in the hallways giving looks of disapproval. I hear your prejudiced corn- ments in class. I think you want to prove your beliefs do not inform your own biases, or that you haven't ever attempted to impose those biases and judgments on others. Such a delusion explains why, although you don't spell well, you know enough about sending anonymous emails to know how to cover your tracks well. You prefer to insult instead of talking things out. You also prefer making your insults from the dark. You also prefer to think you are not alone in your opinion. But you are. A coalition of students has formed to stop bigoted individuals like you from attacking individuals like Tom Hawkins. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Hypocrites and cowards make unfounded arguments from the darkness. Your inadequacy is matched only by the malice that must have gone into the memo you disseminated to students. But most of these students have responded in horror, anger and passioned resolve to protect homosexuals on this campus from being harassed by hypocrites and cowards. So it turns out you sent your memo to some of the wrong people. Students working in politics, philosophy, religion, science and fine arts have all raised one multiplied voice of celebration in diversity and support of homosexuals. Freshmen and seniors alike have stood together rallying to counter your discrimination. Professors have told me, "Mark my words: good will come of this." Newly elected members of student government have sent their support as well. President Holland has voiced empathy and solidarity with Hawkins, in front of my own eyes, and he is deter- mined to work to make whatever institutional changes are necessary to make our campus inclusive of everyone, even prejudiced individuals. Members of this community stand true to our belief that we live in a beautiful world where our humanity can be so varied and yet so free. Each of these people take your memo about Hawkins as a personal offense. And in the coming days, there will be more allied together against ignorant bigotry like yours. So here's some advice: the next time you want to attack us, try having the guts to do it to our face. What was your overall opinion of the student elections "I wasn't involved at all. It seemed fishy with all that drama. I know they get a lot of money but I don't know where it goes." "Do they have elections? When do they have elections?" -Junior Colin, Construction Management -Aaron Mccarter, Marketing "I voted. I don't know who won. Did they post it somewhere?" - William Bates, Behavioral Science "I voted for Brock Ward, he showed interest in deaf studies and that's my major...I don't know if he won." -Destinee Rowley, Deaf Studies "I voted. There was a girl in one of my classes who was running so she was hounding everybody...She might have won I haven't checked. And I couldn't believe how many posters there were." "I think Aspire should have won. They didn't have enough time to promote." -Marcus Pratt, Emergency Services Management -Ryan Hong, PR "I don't really know what's going on. I came into school one day and it was like a poster explosion...I don't think the student elections are bad or anything." -Jeff Adams, Computer Science "I know that there was a lot of drama and I know there were serious violations that weren't punished. I think that when you get into the politics here and they are corrupt on a university level, it'll never change out in the real world." - Macote Ambrozio, Political Science Major "I thought that the majority of the individuals who were most capable won, however, this doesn't mean that the people I wanted to win, won." -Maggie Owens, Speech Communications "I think a lot of awareness was raised this time around. The turnout was better this year. There are those of us who are still going to push for election reform and other issues that can hopefully make next year's elections more democratic." -Jessica Burnham, Integrated Studies |