Senior and Students’ Association President John LaBoda, in cooperation with the Pride Network, has been circulating a letter regarding the tearing down of student fliers across campus.
“None of us will agree with every activity or group that our campus hosts,” says the letter, which will be published in next week’s issue of the Campus Times, “but our disagreement does not give us the right to inhibit other students’ methods of communication.”
The letter, for which LaBoda and co-director of the Pride Network and junior Dan Lioy have been soliciting support, condemns the tearing down of posters that a person might not agree with.
The letter expressed that the Pride Network is not the only organization which has been affected by the tearing down of posters ? organizations from fraternities to athletic teams are also affected, the letter said.
“As SA President, it is my responsibility to stand up for underrepresented groups and student groups on this campus,” LaBoda said. “I will not tolerate student groups being bullied around. Every student organization on this campus has the right to be heard, and it is my duty to make sure they are heard.”
Last year, the Pride Network (then known as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Friends Association) was one of several student groups targeted by discriminatory writing on posters and in the tunnel underneath the Academic Quad.
Members of GLBFA had called for a letter such as this following those incidents, and opened up a dialogue with fraternities to encourage cooperation between their organizations.
The Campus Times has signed the letter, and encourages other student groups on campus to also show their support by adding their signatures.
“Freedom of speech and the right to publicize and discuss issues on a college campus cannot be infringed by closed-minded individuals who feel the need to suppress the opinions of others,” said Todd Hildebrandt, junior and Editor-in-Chief of the CT, explaining the CT’s support of the letter.
If your student group is interested in supporting this statement, contact Lioy at dl005i@mail. rochester.edu.
Berry can be reached at tberry@campustimes.org.
