To the Editor:

I support Pilar Siman’s plea to Georgetown to actively speak out against discrimination (“Hate Crimes Have No Place on the Hilltop,” THE HOYA, Oct. 4, 2005, A3), especially in the wake of the latest example of homophobia against a member of the Class of 2009.

But I wonder why Ms. Siman is so surprised about homophobia on campus. As she puts it, “I simply could not accept in 2005 at this Catholic and Jesuit institution that a person had not only been judged and discriminated against, but also physically and verbally attacked for his sexual orientation.”

Perhaps the author is unaware, but in May of 2003, Cardinal Francis Arinze delivered a commencement address to the College in which he claimed that the family is “under siege” by homosexuality. In response to student and faculty protests, Dean Jane McAuliffe wrote: “I’m sure that Cardinal Arinze did not intend to hurt any of his audience,” and that “as an academic community, vigorous and open discussion lies at the heart of what we do, and there are many different voices in the conversation.”

Apparently Dean McAuliffe saw homophobia as a voice to be included in that discussion.

In 2004, Catholic Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) was the keynote speaker at the John Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life, which is sponsored in part by Hoyas for Life and was held on campus. You may have heard of Santorum, who once remarked: “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the

right to incest, you have the right to adultery.”

Hoyas for Life and the Knights of Columbus, another sponsoring group, did nothing to distance themselves from Santorum’s homophobic comments.

Though disheartened, I am not at all surprised to hear about this latest incidence of homophobia to affect Georgetown. The student body cannot trust the university’s administrators and officially-sponsored student groups to disassociate the school’s name and image from discrimination and homophobia.

Ribby Goodfellow (FLL `04) Oct. 4, 2005

To the Editor:

Walking through the gates of Georgetown University about a year ago, I was awestruck. This was such a beautiful campus. I loved it and felt at home immediately. As I walked with my super-cool tour group trying not to look like the dorky and out-of-place high schooler I was, I did manage to hear quite a bit about the joys Georgetown has to offer. But one thing, repeated oh-so-often by my tour guide, stuck out in my mind: This university, so strong in its Catholic heritage, was willing and wanting to embrace diversity.

Not only do we accept diversity of race and nationality, but also religious and sexual orientation differences. I was impressed that this school boasts a fulltime Imam on staff. My guide also spoke of organizations on campus dedicated to helping homosexual individuals. I was so impressed that a Catholic school was so accepting and proud of its diversity.

When I started NSO, now almost a month ago, I was even more impressed with the “Pluralism in Action” program. I learned so much that evening. In small groups we discussed differences in race, experiences, sexual orientation, family history and socioeconomic backgrounds. I was inspired to get to know the people around me better. I was fired up!

This is why I was so shocked a week or two later. My friend, a friend I got to know well over the NSO week, was attacked. He did nothing to deserve this except to be part of the diversity Georgetown boasts of. I was sure this problem would be dealt with immediately. His pain would be lessened by Georgetown’s swift correction of the problem. I understand that no direct action can occur. He was so shocked by the attack that he does not remember the three men who were part of this assault. What I would like to know is if he reported the incident so promptly, where was any action? Why wasn’t anyone informed by e-mail that an attack had occurred on campus? Why was this event ignored?

I only hope that everyone learns from this experience. Many of us were turned on to Georgetown by its diversity. We love it here; this is home. But if this is to truly be a place that each and every one of us is able to call home, it must be a place where all are made to feel welcome and loved, where all are made to feel part of a family, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, and where there is absolutely no tolerance for prejudice, hatred or discrimination.

Caitlin Poliner (MSB ’09) Oct. 4, 2005