To the Editors:

We, the members of the Oberlin College Dialogue Center (OCDC), are writing to express our concern with some of the recent postings on the Online Anonymous Confessional.

In some conversations on the website, the complex issues of race, gender, class, sexuality, able-bodiedness and religion have been discussed in a trivialized manner.

These comments have a potent effect, as seen by the comment the Review printed last week: “If I had been a prospective student and saw this website, I probably would have been scared to come here.”

We recognize the value of an anonymous forum where students can freely express their views, and we feel it is possible to discuss sensitive dialogue in a more respectful way.

The members of OCDC are committed to raising awareness about issues of social injustice and prejudice by promoting mutually respectful and multi-partial dialogue.

OCDC student mediators are available to facilitate discussions about the website, and are also interested in seeking ways to help promote constructive online dialogue.

We are open to community opinions about what services we can provide that would be most useful.

In calling for more sensitive dialogue, OCDC does not seek to censor or suppress anyone’s voice, particularly those who feel frustrated by these issues.

Rather, we seek to play a role in bringing different voices together in a conversation that will generate a more productive outcome.

–The members of the
    Oberlin College
     Dialogue Center