Let Intolerance Ring!
By: Patrick Casten, Columnist
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Opinion
For my last column of the year, I have decided to address an incident that many of you are well aware of by now but definitely warrants attention.
During Friday's lunch period, the College Republicans hosted a Gates Center approved event, entitled "Traditional Marriage Day," at the tables outside of the Hart Dining Hall.
During our event, we displayed a sign that read "Traditional Marriage Day" and there were several slogans on the poster, most notably "Support Traditional Families", and we handed out "wedding cake" to anyone who wanted a piece.
On Thursday, I had mentioned to a former acquaintance that this event would be occurring, with intentions of explaining the true meaning of the day before it began. In reaction, she began preparations for a "Marriage Equality Day" sign, intending to hand out candy attached with statistics about why they desired marriage equality.
This group did not register its event with the Gates Center, something that is necessary to procure a table outside of the dining hall.
When questioned by Gates Center Department Assistant Linda Day, the group members said their "event" had been approved by Patrick Doggett, Program Coordinator for the Gates Center, which was not true, and when Linda reached Pat Doggett; he had informed her that they were not approved for an event and therefore could not occupy the table.
The group that staged this unsanctioned event not only attempted to deceive Linda Day, but completely ignored her requests for them to leave the tabling area, and proceeded to table against me and the other member of the College Republicans who was assisting in the event. (While PRIDE denies sanctioning the event, the event request form was submitted by a member of PRIDE, as well as PRIDE being listed as a sponsoring organization, so you can make your own judgment on that.)
Throughout the lunch period, the other students and I were harassed, insulted, and threatened by members of the unapproved event, as well as their other supporters.
During Friday's lunch period, the College Republicans hosted a Gates Center approved event, entitled "Traditional Marriage Day," at the tables outside of the Hart Dining Hall.
During our event, we displayed a sign that read "Traditional Marriage Day" and there were several slogans on the poster, most notably "Support Traditional Families", and we handed out "wedding cake" to anyone who wanted a piece.
On Thursday, I had mentioned to a former acquaintance that this event would be occurring, with intentions of explaining the true meaning of the day before it began. In reaction, she began preparations for a "Marriage Equality Day" sign, intending to hand out candy attached with statistics about why they desired marriage equality.
This group did not register its event with the Gates Center, something that is necessary to procure a table outside of the dining hall.
When questioned by Gates Center Department Assistant Linda Day, the group members said their "event" had been approved by Patrick Doggett, Program Coordinator for the Gates Center, which was not true, and when Linda reached Pat Doggett; he had informed her that they were not approved for an event and therefore could not occupy the table.
The group that staged this unsanctioned event not only attempted to deceive Linda Day, but completely ignored her requests for them to leave the tabling area, and proceeded to table against me and the other member of the College Republicans who was assisting in the event. (While PRIDE denies sanctioning the event, the event request form was submitted by a member of PRIDE, as well as PRIDE being listed as a sponsoring organization, so you can make your own judgment on that.)
Throughout the lunch period, the other students and I were harassed, insulted, and threatened by members of the unapproved event, as well as their other supporters.
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