Opinion: Letter
Actually, it is ASM’s place
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I am writing to respond to the recent editorial, “ASM, it’s not your place” (Sep. 23, 2009). If those of you on The Badger Herald Editorial Board wish to object to the legitimacy of where ASM distributes its funds, that’s fine. But please do not use the “logistics” of the National Equality March as a guise to simultaneously push your own agenda about how you feel on the issue of gay rights itself. If you wish to state both arguments, by all means do so — but do so separately. Your opinion on whether you feel ASM should or should not sponsor certain events and how you feel about the events themselves are two entirely separate issues; blurring the lines between the two not only depreciates your argument, but is also inappropriate and misleading.
The Student Council has no such “ethical obligation to withhold public statement” on the issue. Although you personally may not support gay equality, do not presume to tell others they do not have the right to speak out in favor. The idea that the university administration should prevent the impression it “has formally endorsed the full gamut of same-sex rights proposed by activists” for the sake of the potential conservative student implies personal opinions, specifically controversial or immoderate ones, should never be voiced at all for fear that any one person might be intimidated by the implications and forced to sway to one side or the other. That, in itself, is the beauty of our right to free speech and freedom of choice. And I, personally, hold more faith that the American public possesses the keen intellect to determine its own opinions, even when bombarded with all the “liberal,” “conservative” and “everything in between” stances.
Furthermore, please do not be so arrogant as to say that you omnisciently know what the effective results of such a march would be on the equal rights movement for the LGBT community. To say you do not believe the trip is “central to the purpose of the RSO” is one thing, but it is offensive to simultaneously opine on the effectiveness of the march itself, let alone the voice of even a single person. It appears, again, that you essentially believe that citizen efforts to defend and speak out about their beliefs have had, and will have, little to no effect on change. Change begins somewhere and continues to reinforce itself, no matter what issue you’re talking about. And if it weren’t for the strength that such individuals find to act in defense of their beliefs, change would never be possible. To say “the march will provide no more visibility for LGBT rights if a few more folks from UW come along for the ride too” is incredibly derogatory toward anyone who is a part of this effort and to whom these issues hold critical significance. How could you ever, given the course of history, deny the power of even a single voice? Please, do not devalue mine.
Stephanie Connors
Junior, Communication Arts
saconnors@wisc.edu
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As somebody who personally knows three of the ed board members, I would highly doubt they would ever come out against LGBT equality. Way to attack a group of people you don’t know instead of their arguments.
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This is poorly written and based purely on assumptions. Take the time to actually read the article next time. Then I don’t have to waste time reading any part of a mind-numbing Letter to the Editor.
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Comm Arts major? I hope your parents send you a bill when you graduate.
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Not to burst your bubble, but I am quite confident that at least one ed board member supports LGBT equality, and personally knowing a handful of the remaining board, I would venture a (quite-educated in fact) guess that the majority of the board supports LGBT equality.
Also, I believe the ed board op-ed very clearly indicated that they believed it was not ASM’s place to voice an opinion on the issue (and that this was not a veiled attempt to sneak in anti-LGBT sentiment)
In regard to your first amendment criticism, the ed board piece did not say it is unconstitutional (as your claim for first amendment freedom implies) for ASM to voice an opinion; rather, it is not within the purview (dare I say scope) of the organization to venture such commentary.
I think, perhaps, there is a fundamental disagreement between you (and the members of the campus community who urged ASM to vote in favor) and the ed board (and those ASM council members who abstained) as to the role of student government on campus. The issue in question is not about LGBT rights as it is the nature of student governance.
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It’s not ASM’s job to fund junkets to DC, regardless of the issue. I’m imagining your reaction if tea party supporters were to get money from ASM to go to DC…you’d probably blow your stack.
Piece of advice, kid: You could have said what I think you were trying to say in about half the words. Nobody in the real world reads verbose, pompous pieces like yours.
IP hash: 60754a8b
I actually thought this response was well worded and worthwhile. I do think the Badger Herald Editorial Board did overstep a bit in their response to the lack of ASM funding. Regardless of their view on the event, they could have worked harder to not discredit the potential influence that a UW delegation could have produced.
IP hash: 5190e1c9
Our student fees are high enough as is. ASM should go full scrooge with segfees for the time being. I would have no problem giving some money to help assist students to go on this trip. However the money should not come from segfees, it should come from fundraisers and ground beating
IP hash: 56354fb4
This letter is awful. I sincerely hope you don’t graduate with a comm arts degree, it’s embarrassing.
That said, ad hominem attacks on groups of people you don’t know are a bad way to start your argument. Also, you cannot honestly think that “the university administration” should try to sway people’s opinions, or even give the impression that they are trying to. That may be free speech, but as a public institution that relies on state funds, indoctrination would be a serious charge to face.
Please don’t write until AFTER you think.
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this kinda of crap is expected from a comm arts major, not surprised.