It is sad when an organization whose stated purpose is to promote the rights of individuals in our society discredits itself with illegal conduct.

To those of you who have heard or read the demands presented by Donna M. Hughes of the Women's Studies Program calling for a University-sponsored condemnation of The Lionhearted and boycott of the Centre Daily Times, consider this: It is completely legal to express an opinion in this country.

But The Lionhearted "attacks women collectively," Ms. Hughes asserts.

It is true that Womyn's Concerns has championed the vital interests of women's equity and safety on campus. But when the political views of The Lionhearted do not coincide with those of Womyn's Concerns, by what mysterious power of association does this translate into an attack on women everywhere? Are you so presumptuous as to believe that Womyn's Concerns completely and accurately reflects the beliefs of all women? It does not. There are women on the staff of The Lionhearted! Are you implying that these women are poor, misguided souls who don't know what's good for them? Your gender isn't under attack, Ms. Hughes, your organization is!

"We say the Centre Daily Times doesn't support free speech -- it supports women hating," Ms. Hughes writes. The word hate is used 12 times in Ms. Hughes' letter; it still doesn't it the accused. I can find no evidence that The Lionhearted hates or encourages hate towards women. Tasteless cartoons? If The Lionhearted is an organization full of women haters, as Ms. Hughes alleges, then by the same definition every late-night comedian or political cartoonist who ever satirized a public official is a hateful person. They are not. We are left with the scenario of one organization disagreeing with another. Nothing more.

So what, then, are you trying to accomplish with your reckless, clench-fisted rhetoric, Ms. Hughes? Fellow citizens, do we want a country where a vocal minority can suppress the political views of another group?

Who is spreading hate, here, folks? In launching your violent, unsubstantiated attack, Ms. Hughes, your organization has become the hateful type of group you so loathe.

To the University administration and the Centre Daily Times: I salute you for standing tall in the face of this misguided attack.

To Donna Hughes: You will find plenty of us who are willing to follow your lead in supporting women's equality and safety. You must first practice what you preach.