LGBT Committee Condemns Poster

To the Editors:

As members of the General Faculty Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns, we would like to join Dean Peter Goldsmith in his Letter to the Editors in the Feb. 15 Review in condemning the posters that appeared on our campus announcing an event called “smear the queer.”
The word “Queer” may be a label that some of us have proudly reclaimed, but all of us who remember the cruel childhood game named on the posters feel less safe knowing someone with access to the campus could suggest that such an event take place here. We hope that the College will identify and take proper action to assure that the creator(s) of the posters understand their offense and do not repeat it.
Furthermore, we’d like to remind the campus community that one of the responsibilities of our committee is to track incidents of homophobia and discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people. Feel free to contact any of the committee members listed below, should you have a question about your rights on campus or feel the need for further support.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee of the General Faculty

–Committee Co-Chair William Marvin, Music Theory
–Committee Co-Chair William Norris, Sociology
–Midge Brittingham, Director,
Oberlin College Alumni Association
–Jan Cooper,
Rhetoric and Composition
–Ralph Francis,
Safety and Security
–Michael Hartwyk,
LGBT Community Coordinator,
Multicultural Resource Center
–Andrena Hawkins,
College first-year
–Kim LaFond, Associate Dean/Director
Residential Life and Services
–MacKenzie Moore, College senior
–Michael Muska, Director, Athletics
and Physical Education
–Harry Pepper, Counseling Center
–Deborah Rifkin, Music Theory
–William B. Stackman,
Associate Dean of Students