The joint letter to the editor from Brandi J. Wilsker and Pamela Pezzola, as well as the message from Vice Provost James Stewart regarding the Chino Wilson opinion column were right on target.

Few people would deny that freedom of expression is a paramount value in the United States. Many people are rightfully (in my opinion) concerned about the seemingly paradoxical actions of the Collegian regarding its own opinion writer column and the antics of a person (James Whitehead) who spewed forth his vile opinions regarding homosexuals over a computer network. Neither opinion piece served to improve the educational climate. Both caused lots of discussion -- but to what end?

I have a poster in my office that has lots of vile, hurtful names (not all equally so). Any combination of those names could have been inserted into the Wilson or Whitehead opinion pieces. Would the Collegian print each one? And to what end?

There is no denying that in our history there are many horror stories about relations between and among racial and ethnic groups. We must learn from these events. Our future together here and as part of the global community must be based on a positive, constructive approach. We cannot survive with the Wilson/Whitehead final solutions.

Over the next several days our community responses to this most recent incident will suggest how far we have come since 1988.