Dear Editor:

I write today to express my deep concern about the cancelation of a lecture by gay-rights advocate John Corvino.

My Aquinas education equipped me with so many invaluable tools. Chief among them, probably, is a tireless respect and regard for different and often unpopular perspectives. While some opinions are weighted greater with respect to title, power and influence, none ought to play as a trump card at any college that places a high premium on the power of free thought. The quashing of debate affords no gain intellectually or morally. It can, however, awaken passion and critical thought even where it may have appeared dead. Perhaps, then, some good may come of this. I pray it does.

Aquinas missed out on a grand opportunity: To defend against an “attack on Catholic teaching values,” as President Balog referred to it, and, in so doing, surely lead many students to the doctrine to which it so fervently cleaves. Nothing puts a spit shine on time-honored (read: old) testament quite like a modern challenge.

Please do not turn your back to another such opportunity.

Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem.

Humbly,
Aaron Ogg, ‘05

The issue at hand concerns freedom of expression. We have the gift of a safe community in which we can openly express our individuality — opinions, political views, and religious beliefs — without fear of discrimination. Tolerance and acceptance are values which are woven into the fabric or our mission at Aquinas College. Yes, Aquinas is a CATHOLIC COLLEGE; however, it is also DOMINICAN, meaning it has a commitment to inclusivity and openness.

In the fall, I served as the Coordinator of the Lecture Committee of Programming Board. Under my leadership, Dr. John Corvino was scheduled to present at Aquinas. Programming Board shares the commitment of the College to tolerance and compassion. Recalling our Dominican heritage, I quote from the definition of Community, a Dominican charism: [calls for] “…a commitment to building community through hospitality, inclusivity, and dialogue.” On this basis, Dr. Corvino was scheduled to present.
While I am disappointed that the program was cancelled, I feel there is a bigger issue at hand. If a program that promotes tolerance and acceptance, both fundamentally Christian ideals, can cause for such upheaval, what else will catalyze a call for censorship? Consider its broader implications: Could the Diversity Initiatives Dept. receive funding? Could student groups such as the Center for Free Inquiry gather? How many sub-populations will be deprived of their individuality? How many rights will be compromised for the sake of “preserving Catholic tradition”?

If diversity, inclusion, and tolerance are priorities to Aquinas College, then the students need to stand up for their rights now. GENTILE, JEW; WOMAN, MAN; WHITE, BLACK; GAY, OR STRAIGHT; we are all ONE STUDENT BODY.

We the students must defend our right to academic freedom. I, therefore, urge that we as a student body adopt a policy of our own: a policy protecting freedom of expression.

Emily Ferstle, junior

One thing I really enjoyed about AQ is that I felt like we received a liberal, open minded education. It is very disappointing as an alumnus to hear about the college canceling this event. What message does this send to students who are homosexual? Not only is the act offensive, it is unethical. AQ students are not all Catholic, and certainly not all heterosexual. I think that this will deter many students from attending AQ, not to mention alumni neglecting to donate funds to the college. To say the least, it is extremely disappointing. What about homosexual faculty? Certainly this is offensive to them. In fact, it is discrimination.

Being Christian means being accepting, not judging others. There is a great deal of hypocrisy associated with this action not to mention the evident bigotry and hatred. These are certainly not Christian ideals. Furthermore, if some narrow minded students prefer not to attend, let them stay home with their closed minded perspectives. Chances are, they have nothing intelligent to contribute anyhow.

Theresa McMunigal, ‘05

Dear Editor,

As Aquinas develops a policy to address controversial events on campus, I have several hopes. First, I appreciate the support President Balog initially communicated to students during the week of Corvino’s postponement, and I hope that his decisions regarding the future policy reflect continued support for the needs of a diverse student body. Second, I hope that this diverse student body will be represented accurately by the policy development committee and consulted during every step of the process.
I believe that the policy should reflect the following, in keeping with Aquinas’ Mission Statement:

1. “The further development of one’s religious belief, one’s relationship to God and one’s lifelong response to God’s call to know, love, and serve.” Events should offer students the opportunity to explore what it means, as individuals, to live out their Catholic faith. If the college presents the teachings of the Church while neglecting to support students in their journeys of faith and self-discovery, it fails in one of its most important roles.

2. The Catholic perspective, with the understanding that students themselves represent this diverse perspective, and with the confidence in their ability to adequately represent it at any event, equipped with the tools of critical analysis and thoughtful expression provided through an Aquinas education.

3. “The trust, support, and encouragement of trustees, alumni, benefactors, and friends” of Aquinas, but only after all other aspects of the Mission Statement, which primarily addresses the needs of students, have been met.

In addition to the creation of this policy, I believe that the Corvino event reveals the need to solidify Aquinas’ commitment to diversity and inclusion by recognizing the value and rights of its GLBTQ students. I firmly believe that “sexual orientation” should be added to the Aquinas College Diversity Statement.

Kyla Sisson, sophomore

Dr. Balog did a very hard thing when postponing the John Corvino talk. The biggest misconception of his actions was that students think he does not want diverse opinions voiced on campus. From everything I have understand to be true, that is not what Balog wants. Our mission statement clarifies that Aquinas is “inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition,” meaning we are both Catholic and open at the same time. John Corvino was acceptable for the campus’ goal of being inclusive, but it was unacceptable for the campus goal to be rooted in Catholic Dominican tradition. As it breaks our declared institutional mission, Balog made action to postpone the talk which was one-sided against Catholic tradition and, therefore, our school mission.

I am in full support of our president’s actions. I pride our school in both its base in Catholicism and its openness to diversity, but to have both of these a line must be drawn. I understand that students like Aquinas because of its liberality, but it is unreasonable to expect a Catholic college to act like a public one. As a friend said to me the other day, for Aquinas to fund John Corvino’s talk would be like having an anti-Nickelback club, then (as a club) hiring Nickelback to perform at one of the meetings. I do not feel that rights are being intruded upon, since America is a free country and that outside of our private institution a one-sided opinion can be funded and publicized. For our institution, however, I fully support Balog’s rejection of funding the speaker in order to uphold what our mission statement clearly states.

Elizabeth Christian, sophomore