Top College News Subscribe to the Newsletter

Call to Action

Letter to the Editor

Published: Sunday, January 17, 2010

Updated: Monday, January 18, 2010 03:01

Opening up my acceptance letter to Notre Dame was one of the proudest moments of my life. I always wanted to come here. But the violent, hateful comic approved by the staff of The Observer and printed in the Jan. 13 edition represents the complete opposite of what I thought this University stood for. I'm now ashamed to be a Notre Dame student. I can't begin to fathom how hard it is for members of the LGBT community to live at Notre Dame.


Make no mistake, this incident of blatant and violent hatred towards the LGBT community is no freak accident. It is not just the fault of the "Mobile Party" creators, nor the editors of The Observer. It is each and every student's fault. We, as a student body, have supported a culture at Notre Dame in which hateful, homophobic jokes like the one in the "Mobile Party" are acceptable. We are supposed to be a family, a tight-knit community. Each and every one of us has failed miserably.


We might not all be homophobic, and we might not all use derogatory epithets, but we have failed to put an end to homophobia and the use of hurtful, disparaging words. I don't think that the majority of students here are bigots, but I do think that most of us, including myself on many occasions, are pushovers. We hear "fag" and silently think, "Tisk, tisk. What a shame." We owe it to our LGBT brothers and sisters at Notre Dame to take a stand. Call people out when they do use derogatory slurs, no matter how benign they may seem. If we let slurs get thrown around nonchalantly, we will only propagate the idea that it is acceptable to treat members of the LGBT with disrespect.


Finally, to all of the members of the LGBT community, I'm so sorry that we have allowed this to happen. I know countless other students who feel the same way. You're not alone and we love you.


Patrick Guibert
freshman
Dillon Hall
Jan. 15

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

5 comments

Anonymous
Sat Jan 30 2010 16:11
Thanks, Patrick. I'm a recent graduate and was dismayed when I learned about this incident yesterday. Looking back, I think we students too often did not do enough to stand up for our LGBT classmates and others on campus. It's no wonder many people do not come out until after they have graduated and have moved on beyond the bubble. Students, faculty, staff and others at Notre Dame must denounce bigotry in any form.
si vous plait
Tue Jan 19 2010 19:07
Unless, when they speak out, it is of disrespect to a fellow human being. Dehumanizing someone and calling it a freedom, is quite the opposite. How much I feel that the blame blanket has been to comfortable for some people to use; and that the un-apologetic apologies are running rapid, I do believe that this is a turning point. It has been said before, and it bears repeating: "The views of some are not that of the many". I believe that keeping the label on LGTBQ persons, is becoming all to easy as well. "The Gays" are not just "The Gays" they are your fellow students, teachers, mothers, brothers, sisters, lovers. "The Gays" are people, just like anyone else. Keeping that label just keeps the fires in the pit stiring, and the uneasy rhetoric will always continue. I hope to see a day when "The Gays" turn into, our neighbors, friends, equals. Dona Nobis Pacem
ND '09
Mon Jan 18 2010 16:41
Patrick-

If you are ashamed to be a Notre Dame student, then transfer.

John Kemnetz
Mon Jan 18 2010 16:19
I think Patrick really hit the nail on the head with this letter. The line "I don’t think that the majority of students here are bigots, but I do think that most of us, including myself on many occasions, are pushovers." pretty much epitomizes the situation on campus all too often. While we don't in any way promote anti-gay rhetoric, we don't speak out against it, and if WE can't even muster up the guts to conquer the social pressure of condemning "gay-bashing" to our friends, then how can we ever expect a gay person to feel accepted at Notre Dame. It's not so much about "acknowledging a situation" anymore... It's about doing something to actively change it.
Your name
Mon Jan 18 2010 11:07
Wow way to toss blame around like its a free t-shirt. The actions of a few are not the fault of everyone on this campus. Frankly people have a right to think whatever they like. You have a right to be a bigot in this country if that's what you want or to be a progressive if that's what you want and many Americans have died to defend that freedom. Voice your dissent but everyone is entitled to respect when they speak out.






log out