It's been a really long time since I've written to the Student. Normally I try to make it a point not to. This week, however, there have been just so many things to write about that I couldn't resist. There was Nils Van Otterloo's article last week saying that homophobia supported by the institutional backing that comes with writing a newspaper editorial is legitimate, while grassroots homophobia is illegitimate -- a real disturbing article on so many fronts. There was a multitude of students who condemned a newspaper editor for not going along with their wishes to hide a story about racism through ignorance in the classroom, saying she was making "a big deal" out of "nothing". And then, of course, there is the most recent display of institutional homophobia coming down upon us from the Bates College administration.

Dean Sawyer's explanation that there was a series of miscommunications is not enough. Regardless of intentions, the administration effectively managed to turn an elaborate, pro-active, celebratory visual art display for Coming Out Weekend into a hurried, defensive display about the struggle to survive in a homophobic world. The Hate Crimes and Bias Committee needs to investigate this matter fully. It is that committee's responsibility to recount, account for, and condemn homophobic actions that take place on this campus. Once again, regardless of intentions, the decision to destroy a display set up for National Coming Out Weekend was clearly one based on homophobia. It is the Hate Crimes and Bias Committee's job to figure out whether that homophobia was based on homophobic ignorance or overt hatred, and to decide the appropriate measures to take in response.

Sincerely,
Arthur Stamoulis '98