Students debate STRAIGHT issue

In attempt to clarify the viewpoints of diverse people on the issue of STRAIGHT, ACLU sponsored a forum with representatives from Allies, LGBSA, Womyn's Concerns, ACLU and the Coalition of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Graduate Students.

- Jon Feinberg
ACLU Co-coordinator

But the two-and-a-half-hour discussion was not devoid of STRAIGHT proponents, and neither was it of STRAIGHT opponents.

Even Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance Political Co-director Duane Gildea said his organization is divided on the issue.

"LGBSA does not have a solid stance," he said. "Personally, it is not clear why (STRAIGHT) exists, but the LGBSA does not oppose STRAIGHT."

The organization was concerned about possible violent actions of STRAIGHT members during the Undergraduate Student Government's Supreme Court hearing, Gildea said, but now that is not as much of a concern.

This situation at the University is a "teachable moment," he said. Everyone is learning about themselves, their peers and the community.

Allies representative, Elina Khislavsky, said she fears STRAIGHT's existence will hinder the coming-out process which is difficult for students as it is.

The feminist issue on STRAIGHT has been ignored so far, said member of Womyn's Concerns Kelly Chiles.

"STRAIGHT supports 'general heterosexual tradition'," Chiles said. "A tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, such as wife-beating, female subordination and feminine dependence on men financially and emotionally."

ACLU Co-coordinator Jon Feinberg compared the struggle of STRAIGHT to become an official organization to the struggle the first University LGB group faced 25 years ago. Homophiles Of Penn State's charter was approved by the USG Supreme Court in 1971, but suspended by Raymond Murphy, then acting vice president of Student Affairs.

STRAIGHT has as much of a right constitutionality to become a University organization now as HOPS did then, Feinberg said.

"Freedom of speech does not discriminate against anyone," he said. "The only way to fight bad speech is with good speech."

There is a problematic dichotomy between the University's intolerance policy and freedom of expression policy, Feinberg said. The USG Supreme Court violated the freedom of expression policy, he said.

Dale Masel, coordinator of the Coalition for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Graduate Students, also had a different view. There are many unanswered questions about STRAIGHT's goals, he said, and perhaps granting it a charter will answer them.

The representatives argued and discussed the constitutionality of the issue for 15 minutes and then fielded questions and comments from about 20 members of the audience.

Among the issues discussed were the morality vs. rationality of STRAIGHT's existence, the U.S. Constitution and how is applies to a partially public university and the fact that the forum and STRAIGHT's existence are supposed the educate the community and facilitate discussion, but no representatives of STRAIGHT were present.

MTV sent a cameraman and reporter to cover the forum and will be present at STRAIGHT's meeting tomorrow night.