In the past month there has been a deserved devotion to raising awareness of LGBTQ equality in response to recent suicides, bullying, and harassment. The ""Don't Ask, Don't Tell"" and ""Proposition 8"" rulings and have also increased attention to the unfair plight that American society has forced upon the LGBTQ community members. Awareness, education and increasing tolerance are pertinent and actions like anti-bullying campaigns, national observances, and protests promoting these practices are necessary for a brighter tomorrow. But what about today? Transitioning from current displays of intolerance to a future of acceptance raises the question of how to handle some recent anti-gay incidents. Where is the line between expressing one's beliefs and intentionally demeaning someone else? What actions require punishment and blame, and what actions can be defended by free speech? A recent incident at UW-Eau Claire addresses this problem.
In September, Dr. Tom Hilton, Chairman of the Information Systems Department at UW-Eau Claire, responded to an e-mail from the student director of the Eau Queer Film Festival that requested advertising space for the festival, in the most disrespectful, ignorant and prejudiced terms I can imagine. In the e-mail, Hilton first claims that homosexual behavior damages communities. He goes on to write, ""I decry attempts to legitimize [homosexuals'] addictions and compulsions. We only hurt them further when we choose to pretend that these walking wounded are OK the way they are, that their present injuries are the best they can hope for in life."" This e-mail does not address my lifestyle, nor does it come from one of my professors and refers to a festival I had no part in, but I am personally offended to read these words knowing they came from a figure of authority that sought to separate students based on their sexual preference.
Eau Claire Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich addressed the vulgarity of this e-mail in a statement to the University Senate, stating, ""These words are such as to deny the individual worth and experience of LGBTQ students, faculty and staff … such an e-mail can neither educate nor contribute to dialogue or understanding."" So far, the chancellor has promised to take administrative action against Hilton. Although reading Hilton's e-mail makes my skin crawl, I wonder what kind of administrative action is appropriate for the circumstance. Hilton was clearly expressing his strong beliefs regarding homosexuality and exercising his right to free speech. However, as a professor and chairman, Hilton crossed the boundaries of free speech as an authoritative figure on campus by condemning, belittling, and objectifying a group of students on campus. As an educator, Hilton should have acted professionally and simply stated that he disagreed with the message of the program and would not be willing to support the cause.
Hilton's prejudiced e-mail is the perfect example of the recently acknowledged unwelcoming and disrespectful atmosphere for LGBTQ individuals on campuses across the country. In light of the six recent LGBTQ suicides, this issue is finally coming into focus for the broader community. Yet, in a letter to the editor of the Daily Cardinal on Oct. 4, Robin Matthies and Aiden Caes demonstrated that these deaths are not unusual and do not ""truly reflect the pervasiveness of bullying that students face on a regular basis."" In fact, they go on to share statistics from Campus Pride's 2010 State of Higher Education for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People that report that, ""One-third of LGBTQ and transgender students, faculty, and staff have seriously considered leaving their institution due to the challenging climate.""
In response to this sensitive issue, UW-Madison is taking action to promote equality, acceptance and tolerance. It is about time. Many students around campus observed the national ""Wear Purple Day of Remembrance and Memorial"" on Wednesday and attended The LGBT Campus Center's Stop the Silence, an emotional gathering exposing the realities of LGBTQ bullying on campus and offering hope for the future. Demonstrating UW-Madison's vision of equality, Dean of Students Lori Berquam spoke at the event proclaiming; ""We start here and we start now. Together, I believe we can do it.""
I commend the response of our university and UW-Eau Claire to address equality on campus, and I believe the Eau Claire administration needs to continue this equality enforcement and censure Professor Hilton. While this e-mail controversy has emerged under the spotlight of other serious controversies, Hilton's punishment should not simply ride on the coattails of the recent LGBTQ furor.
The e-mail controversy should be regarded independently based on the details and effects of that particular case.
Although it does clearly demonstrate the challenges LGBTQ individuals face on campus, Hilton should only be severely punished for unprofessionally promoting intolerance and discrimination of a group of students on campus. Not for having such a strong, controversial opinion, ignorant and bigoted as it is.
Melissa Grau is a sophomore majoring in journalism. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
