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Intolerance not to be tolerated

editorial cartoon by Kevin Johnstone
editorial cartoon by Kevin Johnstone

Proving that tolerance is still lacking at the University of La Verne an alleged gay bashing on March 29, has shown that ULV can no longer hide under the “diversity” umbrella and pretend that everyone gets along.

Junior Jamie Bigornia was attacked by who he believes to be ULV students at Nick’s Place in downtown La Verne. Most believe this was a hate crime in response to his sexual orientation, proving that La Verne is not sheltered from violence. If nothing else, this incident should open the University’s eyes to the fact that we, as a society and a campus, still have a lot of growing up to do.

Short of self-defense, there is never a reason for violence. The fact that individuals would physically or verbally assault another human being makes one wonder where they got the idea that such an act was acceptable. Was it during their childhood, from their parents? Was it from their homophobic friends? Or was it instilled through society’s inability to accept homosexuality? Somewhere during the maturing process of those individuals, something went very wrong.

A college campus should be a place where sexual orientation, race and all other personal characteristics take a back seat to education and friendship built through interaction. This incident has shown that tolerance at ULV is yet to be achieved.

In an open forum on April 8, in response to Bigornia’s attack, several members of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), including two homosexual men and one woman, told of their experiences with homophobic violence and ignorance to a large audience of ULV students, faculty and staff. Unfortunately, it took violence for people to talk about the issues—issues that are not new to the University.

Dr. Loretta Rahmani, dean of student affairs, who attended the forum, admitted that gay bashing has been a problem at ULV in the past. She recalled the rock in front of Founders Hall being defaced during National Coming Out Week when Dr. Mel White, a homosexual minister, presented a Fasnacht Lecture on homosexuality and Christianity last fall. There was also an incident last year involving e-mail in which threatening messages were sent to a homosexual student.

However, this latest incident took gay bashing at this campus to a whole different level, when a student became the victim of a physical assault. This is the time for the University community as a whole to put aside its own personal beliefs and show its disapproval of violence in any form. Whether people feel homosexuality is a preference or an inborn characteristic, a sin or an acceptable fact of life, violence toward another human being should never be tolerated.

The fact that ULV was founded by the Church of the Brethren, a peace church that teaches pacifism and non-violence, makes it more disgraceful that the alleged attackers were not only supposedly college students, who should be socially adjusted enough to know right from wrong by now, but ULV college students. ULV is no longer characterized as a Brethren university and most students do not come here because of the Brethren values, but the principles of non-violence and tolerance should still prevail.

If homosexuality justifies violent acts, then who is next? The mentally and physically handicapped? The overweight and underweight? People with red hair?

Are we all going to have to live in fear because of the lack of tolerance and understanding on behalf of “straight” society? Should we begin to carry around tire irons to protect ourselves? Should we become part of the problem?

No.

With violence, human beings are being denied the rights that are basic to every American citizen: the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights should never be denied regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

Homosexuals and bisexuals have to watch their every move in fear of individuals who are somehow “threatened” by their very existence. Simple pleasures such as holding hands or sharing affectionate glances must be kept behind closed doors for fear of derogatory comments or physical attacks.

Hopefully, this incident will not hinder other students from living out their true identities. It is difficult to be homosexual in intolerant and immature surroundings, but these individuals must remember, above all else, how important it is to be true to oneself.

Unfortunately, until tolerance becomes a way of life for the many, the few will have to live in fear. Personal expression is a fundamental part of college, whether it is of speech, the mind or of lifestyle. Homosexual students at ULV should not have to watch their backs everywhere they go, nor should any student, for that matter. Violence is never the answer.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Kevin Johnstone
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