Thursday, November 20, 2008
Last week, an e-mail sent over the SILC listserv caused something of a stir. The e-mail, a notice of Queers & Allies' participation in an anti-Prop 8 rally on the Plaza, was sent to the head of every student organization on campus. Many on the list quickly called foul, either asking to be removed from the listserv or requesting that some sort of disciplinary action be taken.
After receiving the email, Aaron Quisenberry, associate director of SILC, sent out a reminder that politicking on the listserv is expressly forbidden. This was met with disapproval from members and supporters of Queers & Allies, who were concerned that Quisenberry's e-mail was based off an unwillingness to see the protest as fundamental to the identity and purpose of Queers & Allies.
We can assure you that Quisenberry's reaction had nothing to do with bigotry or homophobia. Rather, he was reacting to the fact that Queers & Allies was advertising an event that focused on a ballot initiative, something unmistakably political in nature. We both count him among our strongest advocates in the university community, an excellent guide and resource for both of our offices. We have no doubts that he was working solely to maintain the policies of the listserv.
However, we find that these policies are due for revision. We, along with Quisenberry, view protests and other political action as a healthy way to enrich and diversify a student's education. College is the time in a student's life most rich with possibilities for activism and political change, and we all agree that we must encourage these opportunities to the fullest extent.
Therefore, during a meeting on November 17, we, along with Quisenberry, agreed to pursue a new policy that allows student groups to publicize all of their events, even rallies and protests, on the SILC listserv (with the sole exception of candidate-based political partisanship). This policy must, of course, be reviewed by administrators and officials of the university, but we're confident that such a policy works in the best interests of all students.
— — Ryan Campbell is the executive director of Queers & Allies and Devin Moss is the LGBT Resource Coordinator for the Student Involvement & Leadership Center.
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Comments
Letter: Groups should be able to publicize events on listserv
Amen to that! This communication network sounds long overdue. Let's hope internet networking will spring our generation out of slumber so it will get up and show what it believes in.
Letter: Groups should be able to publicize events on listserv
I think another good suggestion is having all emails to the listserv run through Mr. Quisenberry to prevent mailbox clutter.
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