In response to the Aug. 28 staff editorial, “Queer couples deserve marriage rights,” Peter Ragusa wrote that the brutality of slavery shares nothing with the quest for gays to gain rights. Perhaps Mr. Ragusa has never heard of Matthew Shepard.
Gays are persecuted in this country. Gay bashing is most definitely akin to the brutality African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities endured in their search for equality. Homophobia is as dangerous as racism. And legalizing gay marriage is simply another step for our country to show its citizens that discrimination is wrong and will not be tolerated.
The word marriage is a legal term. So long as one must apply for a marriage license through a government agency, it will be a legal term. So long as a marriage license guarantees a couple the rights our state and country affords to legally bound couples, I will fight for one. Do not tell me to focus on the word “union” if that word does not imply the very same legal rights that the word “marriage” does – and at the moment it doesn’t. Besides, didn’t we learn a long time ago that “seperate but equal” is wrong?
Not all religion condemns gays. Many openly gay individuals find acceptance in churces and many clergy perform commitment ceremonies. If marriage were really a religious term, to what religion’s definition would the country adhere? Would interracial marriage be legal? Would interreligious marriage be legal? Fortunately, Americans do not have to ponder these questions, thanks to a little provision in our law called “seperation of church and state.”
A gay relationship deserves the same legal benefits as a straight one. Period. Gays pay taxes, work, vote and play as much of a role in communities as straights. To deny citizens rights because of their sexual orientation is wrong. The citizens of this country have a historical tendency to promote equality ? eventually. I have faith that equality will previal in this instance as well.
Rebekah Monson
Alumna
Mass Communication
Honors College will flourish
As student leaders in the LSU Honors Community, we write to shed light on the events of the last five months.
Last spring, Dr. Prestholdt was terminated from his position in the Honors College, generating a great deal of outcry from the LSU community, which took action to protest. Subsequently, Dr. P was moved from his Res. Life position in the Lavilles to create a new business residential college. Dr. P has expressed satisfaction in his new role, and Honors students are glad of that, though they miss him and his leadership.
Also over the summer, the Honors College engaged in administrative restructuring and Res. Life hired Dr. Rex Stem to assume Dr. P?s role in the Laville Honors House, that of Faculty Coordinator. The main function of that position is to oversee Honors College and Laville interaction, largely by advising the Fellows, a volunteer student organization building Honors community in the Lavilles.
The Fellows worked extensively with Dr. Stem before school started and enjoyed the partnership. However, unforeseeable stresses associated with the position conflicted with his duties as a professor and a new father. Rather than neglect his duties, he scaled back his commitments, resigning as Faculty Coordinator. His intent was to allow Res. Life flexibility in selecting a replacement more free to focus on the Lavilles. Dr. Stem did an excellent job, and the Fellows appreciate his efforts and honesty.
Dr. Stem?s resignation left the Fellows without an advisor; they chose to ask Dean Clark of Honors to advise them, and she happily agreed. The Faculty Coordinator position is at this time vacant, but the Fellows are an experienced and capable group, and have already held several events, including the annual Chancellor’s Welcome Tea. With cooperation from Res. Life and Dr. Clark as advisor, the Honors community will continue to flourish, despite the absence of a Faculty Coordinator.
The Honors community has had a turbulent few months; but, as always, the Honors students will continue to work diligently for the good of their Honors community.
Rhonda Bengtson
Senior
Chemical Engineering
Chris Broussard
Graduate Student
Public Administration
Jeremy Greenwald
Senior
Computer Science
Erin Hough
Senior
Psychology
Sarah Rials
Senior
Construction Management