ANO fraternity acted 'out of love'
Over the past couple of days, I've read a letter to the editor ("Hate in the 'Freedom House'," Oct. 2) and an opinion column ("Worst timing ever," Oct. 4) that have denounced Alpha Nu Omega fraternity's actions as hateful and intolerant. Surely, it is argued, anyone who thinks homosexuality is a sin is hating them, and is being intolerant of them. This is not the case. The whole reason Alpha Nu Omega acted was out of love for those who they consider to be suffering and in a bad place in their lives.
Alpha Nu Omega was accused of breaking up unity on the campus when truly they are just trying to seek unity with others. Anyone who is indeed homosexual and wants to have fellowship with Alpha Nu Omega would be more than welcome. Though the members of the group view homosexuality as a sin, they would also brand themselves as sinners, and thus would have a common ground to communicate with and love these people.
On the contrary, were members of Alpha Nu Omega to go to any of the people who have been branding them implicitly as Nazis and bigots, they would be treated as the scum of the earth. This leads me to ask a frank question: Who is being intolerant and who is being hateful? Are the people who have extended open arms to whoever shall come the intolerant, or are those who have written polemical discourses condemning a group exercising their freedom of speech?
Rob Maeder Senior Government and Politics
SSDP: use discretion
Yesterday, The Diamondback reported that Students for Sensible Drug Policy is "asking resident assistants not to immediately call police or write students up if they smell or suspect drug use" ("With no-go on ResLife, SSDP targets RAs," Oct. 4). Varied misconceptions about our motives have been the largest contributors to the hindrance of our progress toward the ultimate goal of more reasonable and fair punishments for students caught with marijuana. I'd like to briefly clarify that the terminology in the article may have suggested a different goal than what we are aiming for.
According to the Department of Resident Life, RAs do have the discretion to refrain from calling the police, and our letter to the RAs simply encouraged them to exercise that discretion. However, our intent was not to encourage RAs to break university policy and risk losing their jobs by refusing to write students up.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if RAs with good consciences begin to lose their sense of smell, given the overly harsh penalties the university imposes upon students caught with small amounts of marijuana. SSDP will continue to do everything in our power to insert some sensibility into our university drug policies.
The full text of the letter is available for any and all interested parties at http://www.ssdpterps.net.
Stacia Cosner Junior Communication President, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
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