| Matt Gillespie Columnist | February 26, 2010 |
“What’s the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?” Answer: “A baseball bat.”
A comic with this dialogue was recently published in Notre Dame’s student newspaper amidst a series of gay rights protests on campus.
The university has recently been criticized by the gay community for excluding sexual orientation from their non-discrimination policy, and refusing to recognize organizations such as the Gay/Straight Alliance as legitimate by refusing their status as a club.
Notre Dame’s egregious lack of acknowledgement towards the growing gay community is not only damaging in the public eye, but also morally reprehensible.
Notre Dame’s public perception, particularly among those in the gay community, has nosedived in recent months. Of course, to a degree, this is expected. No matter how much certain groups and organizations wish it wasn’t so, at the end of the day, Notre Dame is still very much a Catholic university, and as such should be expected to embody Catholic principles.
In this regard, Creighton University has served well as an example of how to balance Catholic interests with those of the students. Despite whatever stance the Catholic Church takes on issues ranging from gay rights to abortion, Creighton has maintained, if nothing else, an open policy, allowing the GSA and Amnesty International on its campus.
Creighton University is not alone in this tolerance. Boston College and Georgetown University are notable institutions to join Creighton with their non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation in the list of those protected from mistreatment.
So this seems to put Notre Dame in the minority, even among the more conservative Catholic universities.
It should be a point of pride among Notre Dame’s population that students are bold enough to challenge the administration, but even the American Revolution needed help from the outside.
This is where universities like Creighton must show their leadership. Creighton’s status as a premier Midwestern Catholic university sets us in an ideal position to encourage Notre Dame to follow our example. Creighton, as a whole, remains closely linked to Catholic ideals while still remaining a strong example of fair-mindedness.
In a world of constant change, especially on the gay rights front, businesses and universities alike must be responsible with the rights granted to their employees. No matter what position individuals or institutions hold, we must remember that every human being deserves basic respect.
Notre Dame would be wise to adhere to this, because in the end, that’s what being a Christian is about.
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| "What’s your favorite part of the Winter Olympics?" |
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"Probably ice dancing." Mallory McGinnis Arts & Sciences junior |
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“Arguing with my roommates about the rules of curling.” Nick Quinn Arts & Sciences senior |
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“Ice skating and the biathlon.” Celyce Graves Arts & Sciences junior |
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“I only really enjoy watching curling, since I’ve been playing since I was five.” Beth Johnson Business junior |
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“The half-pipe, dude.” Jenna Klug Arts & Sciences junior |
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“Hockey! The United States beating Canada was great.” Tara Wander Arts & Sciences sophomore |
Comic By Jake Schutz
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Contact the Opinion Editor at OpinionEditor@creightonian.com
