5 10 1269 https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/7ce8ea8e99a7f05a3943b8d9189bce5d.jpg c96ae666d13b016f6d450a637d02f55d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Dear Editor, A group of anonymous homosexuals (GALA) recently circulated a letter soliciting faculty members to serve as contacts for students who wish to get in touch with the group. I would consider it extremly cruel to a student with homosexual inclinations to put him in contact with a group that is going to tell him or her: (1) that he or she was born that way and should accept it as their lot in life; (2) that the disgust and revulsion which normal, healthy people have for homosexual acts is a mental illness called "homophobia;" (3) that gay culture is wonderful and exciting (I wonder which part they mean--living with one disease after another and dying young-having someone's fist up your rectum?-mastrubation through a hole in the wall with thousands of anonymous partners?-urinating in your partner's mouth and then letting him take his turn-exchanging feces to eat? All these are regular features of gay culture). I have a counter-offer to students who may have homosexual leanings: I will be happy to put you in contact with a group (run by ex-homosexuals) that can help you avoid that short and miserable lifestyle. My offer, of course, is based on the conviction that homosexuality is an unhealthy perversion. If GALA and its promoters want to deny that there is such a thing as sexual perversion, then they should be sure to also open up their group to those who are interested in sex with children, sex with the dead, and sex with sheep and dogs. Sincerely, John Ronning Physics Dept. Friends: There seem to be a number of misconceptions abroad on campus about the newly formed Gay and Lesbian Alliance, and your October 22 article did little to correct them. I'm proud to be the faculty advisor to this group. Those who know me know my interest in cultural diversity, in celebrating rather than merely tolerating the differences among us, and in trying to create a society in which each individual can freely seek to achieve her or his own individual potential. Society as a whole has come a long way toward reaching a state in which gender, racial and ethnic discrimination are unacceptable. Prejudice and discrimination on the basis of sexual preference, however, are still largely tolerated. Though perfect statistics are unavailible, the best availible ones indicate that as many as one in 10-15 individuals is gay. In previous generations, most of these people found it neceessary to conceal their sexual preferences; many still do. Some of my personal interest in this issue began because of my uncle, who was gay. In his generation, outside of "Bohemian" circles, there was no question of tolerance for this preference. He found it hard to accept his own sexuality as normal, and was in constant inner conflict. He neither married nor had a long-term gay relationship; he was a very lonely man. The existence of a support structure of the kind GALA proposes to provide could have made all the difference in my uncle's life. I intend to do anything I can to change the social climate so that others can lead happier lives, relatively free from social stigma. The Oct. 22 Grizzly article raises the issue of whether there is a "need for GALA on this campus." The other group having its constitution reviewed at the Oct. 16th SAC meeting was the Skydiving Club. Is there a need on campus for a Skydiving Club? I'd venture to guess that there are more gay people on campus than potential skydivers. A member of the Ursinus Hillel pointed out to me that the same question could be raised about the Hillel, which serves a very small portion of the community. However, in each of these organization, the group of people directly involved certainly sees the "need" for them, and it seems to me that whether they serve directly the needs of other students is entirely beside the point. The issue that seems to casue some people concern is confidentiality. The article reports that "GALA members want to be anonymous. This is not exactly the case. After all, the members of the executive committee who attended the SAC meeting were making no attempt to maintain anonymity. What is true is that GALA has established a mechanism whereby gay students who prefer to remain "in the closet" can become involved with the organization. For GALA to acomplish its objectives, this is absolutely necessary. People who need peer counseling about their sexuality must be able to contact a supportive peer group without being required to make their identities known to everyone. At present, the organization officers are all out and perfectly willing to reveal who they are. All the anonymity they want is not to have their phone numbers published to all and sundry. It's difficult for me to see how anyone can deny that in the case of this particular organization there is a unique potential for harassment. Much intolerance is demonstrated even in quotes in the article: "I am against homosexuality"; "It offends me...I do not approve of the public organization such as GALA." The author of your article finds problematic "how the club was going to be an active part of the Ursinus community, but remain anonymous." Part of the answer is that no-one is talking about complete anonymity for all members. The club will be an active part of the community by sponsoring speakers, workshops and other awareness events. They also plan to make trips to off-campus events, on which other students will be welcome to come along. SAC, it is reported, is "debating as to whether the campus will benefit from the organization." (Does every organization have to argue that it will provide benefits to the entire campus?) I would make the assumption that gay students represent a portion of the community at least as substantial as other special interests represented in other student organizations. These students will benefit directly. Beyond this, I believe that all students will beneift from any organization that make efforts toward increasing appreciation of diversity. Sincerely, Gina Oboler Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Face Off: Pros and Cons of GALA," November 12, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource Campus benefits of GALA Description An account of the resource Physics professor John Ronning argues that GALA would promote a harmful if curable lifestyle that is homosexuality, while Sociology professor Regina Oboler argues that GALA will benefit all of campus. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource John Ronning, Gina Oboler Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 12, 1991 closet feces GALA Hillel Oboler Ronning SAC https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/87418f02b2cc8400abfb9d3cdf8dc8c2.jpg 803ae069f2cffb702ff936a37d9bdcca Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document To: The Grizzly From: Ronald E. Hess, Professor of Chemistry Date: 12 November 1991 Topic: Letter to the Editor On Saturday, November 9, I watched proTheatre's marvelous production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," a play which deals with the injustice perpetrated by intolerance, the absence of compassion, and the holier-than-thou attitude of overzealous Christians. On Tuesday, November 12, I read John Ronning's vile diatribe directed at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance. Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 and Collegeville, Pennsylvania in 1991! It is sad to see that some things never change, even in the ivory tower. Mr. Ronning,"Judge not, that you be not judged" [Matthew 7:1]. ____________________________________________ Dear Editor and Ursinus Community, In John Ronning's letter regarding GALA, printed in the November 12th issue of the Grizzly, he presented some of his emphatic opinions as fact, and strongly implied a number of erroneous points. I would like to offer an alternative perspective on some of these points and indicate the non-factual status of others. First, Mr. Ronning considers it "cruel" to allow peers to help one another sort out conflicting ideas about their sexuality; but many other people do not regard this as cruel. Rather, some consider the possibility of having a venue within which it is SAFE to discuss sexuality a real service to young adults. Whether hetero- or homosexual, many individuals struggle while coming to terms with their sexual identities. Certainly the hostility toward homosexuality evinced in Mr. Ronning's letter indicates that, at least in some areas, the climate remains particularly unsafe for homosexual and bisexual students. Second, Mr. Ronning equated "normal, healthy" people with those who find "homosexual acts" a source of "disgust and revulsion." Since many, many "normal, healthy" people do not share this attitude, Mr. Ronning's correlation is a troubling logical lapse--one made especially troubling given that the letter is from one trained in a rigorously logical intellectual field. Third, despite Mr. Ronning's implications to the contrary, gay culture is exciting as is straight culture. However, both certainly do include sub-cultures which are neither representative of the whole, nor necessarily appealing to all people. To equate the part with the whole is both inaccurate and a disservice to readers who are unfamiliar with the culture--and who therefore may assume Mr. Ronning's representation as accurate. Mr. Ronning's "counter-offer" is considerate, in that some people do wish to deny their sexuality--and now the ones who do on this campus know one place to turn for assistance. But Mr. Ronning's frightening logical leaps in the same paragraph in which he made this offer make it all too evident that his own strong feelings have temporarily overridden his training in logic and reason. This stance makes me wonder if he can even-handedly assist students dealing with a matter as delicately and potentially fraught with turmoil as is this one. While I do disagree with Mr. Ronning's assessments, I am writing laregly to indicate the holes in the logical fabric of his argument. For were one to read his letter without care and attention, one might be wayed by the vehemence of his words. Siince we live in a culture in which both science and teachers are accorded authority, his appending "Physics Department" after his name might serve not only to identitify him but also implicitly to promise an apparently undeserved credibility to him as an author. As members of an intellectual community, we must demand that people address serious issues with all of the critical skills they have at their disposal; we must insist that those who can contribute to the community as teachers do not indicate--by example or otherwise--that an argument based solely on "revulsion" is a viable argument. Sincerely, Dr. Margot A. Kelley Dear Editor: The opinion written by John Ronning in last week's Grizzly was the saddest piece of work that I have read in many years. Though he pretended to offer advice to homosexuals, the venom in his letter made clear that its purpose was to hurt, not to help. What would possess anyone to publicly vent such feelings of hatred and loathing for other human beings? What could be the motive behind such deliberate cruelty? It certainly could not be a Christian motive. Though I am by no means an authority on Christ's teachings, even I know that hatred and cruelty have no place in His religion. Mr. Ronning should search in his heart to learn the source of his anger, for it seems terrible indeed, and could harm him as deeply as it does others. Robert Dawley Biology Department Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Faculty Members Speak Out," November 19, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource Ronning's Letter on GALA Description An account of the resource Ronald Hess, Margot Kelley, and Robert Dawley speak out again John Ronning's letter. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ronald Hess, Margot Kelley, and Robert Dawley. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 19, 1991 Crucible Dawley faculty GALA Hess homosexual Kelley Ronning https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/557221f213b492316aea776bdd67614f.pdf f0e217718969eea83146fb6f829b7082 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Focus: Carol Clark" Subject The topic of the resource Growth of the African American and Africana Studies Program at Ursinus College Description An account of the resource Marc Hauser completed an article on a female student of named, Carol Clark. He questioned her opinions on different topics, one of which being what is felt like to be black on campus. Clark responded by saying that she was proud to be a black student on campus and that she had yet to deal with any bigotry from other students. However, she did speak on the fact that she believed that there should be a black literature course on campus or even black literature as apart of a general literature course. She believed that just because students hadn’t previously been introduced to any courses created around black history that shouldn't mean there couldn’t be any formed. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mark Hauser Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Ursinus Weekly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 25, 1971 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Mark Hauser Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Ursinus College holds the rights to this document Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Scan from the Ursinus College Archives Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource News Article Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Ursinus College Civil Rights Movement Class Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm Ursinus College 1971 https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/ffc6896ffacf130ebcd9d65c71e9e2b7.jpg 555d7dea648c6c89002c3e19652790cb Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Article Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Focus: Nate Dupree" Subject The topic of the resource Student interest in having more Black studies courses added to Ursinus College. Description An account of the resource “Focus: Nate Dupree Can a Black Man Find Happiness at Ursinus? Well…” is an interview written by Richard Whaley and published November 7, 1974 Ursinus Weekly. In the interview Dupree mentions that he would like to add a Black studies program and black administrators/professors to Ursinus college. While Dupree does not expect the school to implement such programs due to their cost, he believes the school might change if there is pressure from the government. The courses, or lack thereof, may even be the reason why students transfer out of the college. However, the lack of black students, and other minority students, is shocking to Dupree; who has moved from Philadelphia to Ursinus in pursuit of his political science degree. As the college seeks to diversify itself through other means (i.e. bringing in foreign students according to Dupree) the desire to have more inclusive curriculum can be traced as far back as the 1970s. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Richard Whaley Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Ursinus Weekly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 7, 1974 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Richard Whaley Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Ursinus College, all rights reserved. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Scan from Ursinusiana: the Ursinus College Archives. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Article Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Black studies at Ursinus College Collegeville, Pennsylvania Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm Ursinus College 1974 AAAS Black studies Collegeville Curriculum Minority students Newspaper Pennsylvania Ursinus College https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/5c41bd2bb88af7f6373dea86b2ce948e.JPG 7cbd26a2dce414ed55d34b8f3accf5a0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "GALA 1992 Ruby" Subject The topic of the resource GALA Executive Committee Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Ruby Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1992 Bell Cyr GALA Hauser https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/3aec011b5d28b769676f8f6ed4e1e040.jpg cb92531387d5a52352b45d30a99a103d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Editor's Note: As of publication, the group mentioned in the following article has not been approved by the Student Activities Committee or by the faculty. Their consitution is currently under review by SAC. This article was submitted to The Grizzly by the GALA organization. Last week, the newly founded Gay and Lesbian Alliance began its first "visibility campaign" on campus. Letters were sent to all students, to introduce GALA to the student body. Similar letters were also sent to the faculty to elicit their support. And on Friday October 11, over four hundred National Coming Out Day fliers adorned most campus buildings. The message: Gays and Lesbian are a part of this campus, and there are more of us than you think! The GALA will exist to serve several functions on campus. First, to provide a social outlet for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students. For example, the third Friday of every month, the Gay/Lesbian Student Union at Penn holds dances for the area's large gay student population, which we welcome anyone to attend with us. Second, GALA will locate, attend and perhaps sponsor, events to increase our own self-awareness. Our hope is to educate young gay men and women about the wonderful Gay Culture that exists in the world and to promote a feeling of self-worth and self-acceptance. Third, GALA hopes to act as peer counselors to students who are having difficulty accepting their sexuality. Lastly, the GALA hopes to heighten awareness on campus, and to combat homophobia. Plans are already underway to bring speakers to campus and run workshops. For studnets interested in contacting the GALA, we have formed a network of faculty contacts. Interested students can approach any of these contacts, who will pass your name and telephone number on to the Executive Board of GALA. We promise discretion and complete confidentiality. Members names will not appear on lists which are accessible to the public. FACULTY CONTACTS: Dr. Hemphill History Dr. Cameron Spanish Dr. Rosenthal Math Mr. Tarrago Spanish Dr. Lionarons English Dr. Hall French Dr. Kelley English Dr. Schroeder English Mr. Strunk Comm. Arts Ms. Van Duren Comm Arts Dr. Gallagher Anthro/Soc Dr. Oboler Anthro/Soc Dr. Bashus Physics Dr. Moore Politics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "GALA Comes Out," October 22, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource GALA's beginning. Description An account of the resource The GALA organization details its start and purpose, with instructions for finding out more information via executive board members of the organization or through a provided list of faculty contacts. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Ursinus College Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource GALA Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Michael Cyr https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/6aca51277b81a2be8e2e8926d41fa7a6.jpg 803ae069f2cffb702ff936a37d9bdcca Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Dear Editors: In response to John Ronning's letter describing, quite graphically, his aversion to GALA, we offer the following response: 1)Sexual preference is not a matter of choice. With the exception of fundamentalist right-wing kooks, everyone pretty much accepts this principle as a fact. Numerous scientific studies have shown that "curing" homosexuals is only successful when the patients are carefully screened beforehand and have had a great deal of hetersexual experience (Davidson 1976). Other "follow-up" research shows that very few "cured" homosexuals remain wholly hetersexual. Past "cures" have included hypnosis, intensive psychoanlysis, prefrontal lobotomy, electroconsulsive shock treatment, chemical castration, aversion therapy, and many other barbaric methods (McGonaghy, Procter, & Barr, 1972). 2) At no time has GALA ever referred to the homophobic tendendies of closed-minded bigots as a "mental illness." Is racism a "mental illness?" How about sexism? Is intolerance and hate-mongering a "Mental illness?" If GALA considered your homophobia to be a mental illness, we would gladly put you in touch with a group of "ex-homophobes" that could help you avoid that short, miserable lifestyle. Of course, this offer is based on the conviction that homophobia is an unfamiliar perversion. Sound familiar? 3) Ronning's rather foolish belief that homosexuals "live with one disease after another, and die young," is yet another example of ludicrous self-delusion. Unhealthy sexual practices and sexually-transmitted diseases are not limited to homosexuals. Last week's announcement by Magic Johnson proves that point. Most gay men and lesbians today are hyper-aware of safe sexual practices. 4) Attempting to link homosexuality to all of Ronning's graphic sexual acts is nothing more than old-fashioned ignorance. Not all gay people engage in the activities he listed. Nor are these activities engaged in exclusively by homosexuals. Heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals ten to one. Statistically it is ridiculous to say that all sexual perversity is practiced within ten percent of the population, while the other ninety percent have uniform sexual practices. GALA is the GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE, not the "whatever-sexual-leanings alliance." So don't ask us to open up to necrophiliacs, pedophiles, and those who practice bestiality. GALA wouldn't want that many heterosexuals in our group anyway. 5) If normal sexual behavior is not to be defined as "non-mastrubating, non-pre-marital, non-pornographic, non-oral, non-anal, non-fantasy, non-anything-but-you-and-your-spouse-under-the-covers-lights-out-missionary-position-for-producing-children-sex," then Ronning has quite a task ahead of himself. If two consenting adults engage in sexual activity in the privacy of their own home, who cares if they want to urinate on each other? Couldn't Ronning spend his excess energy feeding the poor or sheltering the homeless, or doing something more important than standardizing the sexual habits of a nation? Homosexuals are not the only group that is threatened. After we are "cured," who is next? Will these fundamentalist right-wingers stop there? Don't count on it. I ask Ronning: What are your views on divorce, birth control, pre-marital sex, inter-racial marriage, or working women? To end this letter with a question, I ask: "How tolerant should we be of intolerance?" In a time where "political correctness" is becoming a dirty word, what is the "proper resposne" to mis-informed bigots? How many will not contest this lunatic under the meager excuse, "everyone's entitled to his opinion." Everyone is entitled: So voice your disagreement. Send a message to close-minded, bigoted, extremist, fanatical, narrow, prejudiced, intolerant zealots on this campus and beyond. Respectuflly submitted, Michael Cyr, Jeffrey Bell, Elisabeth Hauser GALA Executive Committee Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Gala Replies to Letter," November 19, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource John Ronning's letter to the editor. Description An account of the resource The Executive Committee members offer a strong rebuke of John Ronning's letter and sentiments. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Michael Cyr, Jeffrey Bell, and Elisabeth Hauser. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 19, 1991 Bell Cyr extremist GALA Hauser homosexual Ronning https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/345bf9845b581b2ad85f1aa5c588f479.JPG bbc4c69eeb5b2baf27925083dab0e8c3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Dear Editors: Now that I no longer have to hide behind the solemn neutral mask of Grizzly Editor, I would like to address Mr. Ronning's attirude towards those who do not share his beliefs; an attitude that during my years at Ursinus, I longed to address but was unable to do so. How unfortunate that GALA, like a babe on uncertain feet, should come toddling forward, risking a fall, seeking the warm arms of trust and understanding--only to be smacked in the face by the cruel hands of bigotry and hostility. How dare GALA seek acceptance? How dare they seek support? How dare they seek the same humane treatment that to which the rest of us hetersexuals are accustomed? I am going to pray for you, Mr. Ronning. I will pray that God's message of love will sweep the dusty corners of your narrowminded soul and that he will open your eyes weighted down with the erroneous beliefs, and that God's hand will guide you into a world where a human being is a human being, no matter what his or her sexual persuasion may be. Sincerely, Lora Hart Class of '89 __________________ Dear Editor and fellow students, Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la! Stop trying to show your folly, Fa la la la la la la la la! Let's stop these battles for a few moments, Fa la la la la la la la la! And think about our hurtful comments, Fa la la la la la la la la! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Ursinus. And while you're sipping on your eggnog and roasting yoru chestnuts on an open fire, take a minute to reflect upon all the spiteful commentaries that have been made over the past semester. I'd be willing to bet they're much harder to swallow than that last piece of fruitcake. Sincerely yours, Ellie Stutzman Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "GALA Responses," December 10, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource GALA's formation Description An account of the resource Two students offer their perspectives on the GALA controversy. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lora Hart, Ellie Stutzman Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 10, 1991 GALA God Hart Ronning Stutzman https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/38850e3bee53628a0135afd1d63bc9a5.JPG 0181058c497ad72ed9e6eca7f5dab22a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of the GSA Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document To the Editor: The subject of a GALA chapter on this campus has been the topic of much debate over the past few weeks. I would like to point out several of the many issues contained in this debate as well as express some of my own opinions on these issues as they relate to the Ursinus campus. The issues include: the issue of the appropriateness of the letter written by John Ronning printed in the October 12 issue of The Grizzly; the issue of the rights of a special interest group versus the rights of the campus; the issue of whether the recognition of GALA by the college is in the college's best interest; and finally the issue of whether the system of decision making within the institution of Ursinus College has allowed a democratic decision regarding GALA's charter. The initiation of the heated debates was the letter by Mr. Ronning. Many of the objections to the letter did not concern his message but his vulgarity. Other concerns was its appropriateness for the newspaper and the question of whether a faculty member should become so vocally involved in such issues. I am sure that most would agree that vulgarity has been and still is acceptable in The Grizzly. One example of this is the horoscope column that most upper-classmen will remember as "Lucinda's column." I am also sure that the majority of the campus understand that freedom of the press allows anyone, including professors, to honestly express their feelings. Nobody has, to my knowledge, condemned Dr. Oboler for becoming involved. Another issue involved is the larger scale interest of gay rights. I personally believe that homsoexuals have all the rights of heterosexuals. Many of the editorials in The Grizzly indicate that Mr. Ronning's statements have been interpreted as hate for homosexuals. I believe they are correct in detecting hate in his tone; however, I interpret this hate as a hate for the practices not for the people invovled. Furthermore, there is an equal or greater amount of hate found in the letter representing GALA. This letter calls Mr. Ronning a lunatic and states that anyone who fails to condemn him is using the "meager excuse" that he has a right to such an opinion. In this way GALA is denying people the right to be intolerant of certain special interest groups. Mr. Ronning was not attacking the rights of homosexuals. He was protecting the right of the people who would potentially be counseled by GALA to hear both sides giving them the ability to make an informed decision. Another issue is that of whether GALA should have been recognized as a campus organization. This recognition involved the passing of their constitution by SAC, now called AFAC. This approval was given on Octboer 18, 1991, by a vote of six to two with one member abstaining and four members absent from the group. In my opinion, there are some legitimate objections to recognizing such a group. There is no doubt that this group has a right to go off campus to conduct their activities. However, Ursinus is a private school which has declared itself "related to the United Church of Christ" in the school catalog. The school does not have any obligation to sponsor a group that would contradict the morals on which the school was founded. The last issue invovled is one that particularly stirkes me as important. This is the atmosphere of intimidation I have recently detected on this campus. As Margot Kelley stated, faculty and staff have a certain "undeserved credibility." The opinion section of The Grizzly is an appropriate form of expression for faculty and staff to express opinions. However, I believe that the classroom and other formal group meetings are not appropriate places for faculty to make statements of their beliefs unless the purpose is to stimulate thought or discussion. I have heard negative comments about Mr. Ronning in both of these situations. I have also heard more than one case of residents assistants who are afraid to voice their opinion on this issue as well as other issues because of what they think their supervisors might think or say. The environment is an intellectual one leading to independent decisions. I feel that the recent atmosphere on campus has not been promoting such individual decision making. I am confident that in the future, issues such as these will be handled more civilly so that biases on campus will not prevent communiton of valuable opinions. Donna Lorenzo Class of 1992 Dear Editor: At the conclusion of their recent letter, the GALA executive committee urged readers to 'send a message to closed-minded, bigoted, extremist, fanatical, narrow, prejudiced, intolerant zealots on this campus and beyond." This fervent appeal was part of their retaliation for a letter from John Ronning in which he expressed disgust for certain filthy homosexual activities and questioned the value of GALA as an instrument for helping students resolve sexual identity problems. Moved by their appeal, I am offering the following as a message to them and the other "closed-minded etcetera" critics of John Ronning who directed their "vile diatribe" cf., anti-Ronning letter from Ron Hess) at him in the November 19 issue of the Grizzly. 1. I have known John Ronning for several years and I admire his honesty, courage, and professional competence. If "homophobe" is intended to denote somone who fears homosexuality or homosexuals, that term certainly cannot accurately be applied to him. On the other hand, the storm of hate filled epithets that fill the letters of his critics, cause me to wonder whether he has cared up a horde of "Ronnophobes." 2. Of course, John offered no "scientific reasoning" (cf. Ronnophobic letter from Dr. Margot Kelley) to prove that the activities described in his letter are disgusting. Science is an effort to understand the physical universe by constructing a logical analog that appeals to the human intellect. Moral principles transcned science and can't be derived from it. Of course, none of the Ronnophobic letters offered either scientific evidence that active homosexuality is a wholesome lifestyle nor a sequence of logical steps that lead from some aspect of the physical universe to the conclusion that those with homsoexual inclinations shouldn't seek help in overcoming them. For thousands of years, we have had a written moral code to reinforce the code (natural law) built into us by our Creator. Those who accept that code as a reliable guide to moral behavior are, in my opinion, on the right rack. 3. Robert Dawley's letter implies that John's expression of revulsion for the disgusting activities of some homosexuals was an act of "cruelty" motivated by "hatred." John Ronning is honest, and sometimes blunt, but never hateful or cruel. In their use of epithets such as "fundamentalist right-wink kooks." the authors of the Ronnophobic letters show a shameful acceptance of left-wing stereotyping of supporters of traditional Juedo-Christian morality. They seems to regard their own outrage as unassailibly righteous and their target as self-righteous. When they employ the term "diversity" in the context of an effort to intellectually intimidate somone with a different viewpoint, I am left with the distinct impression that the word is a euphemism for liberal academic and moral orthodoxy. Sincerely Douglas Nagy _____ Dear Editor If Toni Castells-Talens' letter to The Grizzly (November 19) results in the creaton of a new student organizaiton HPH (Homophobic-Phobic Hetersexuals), I hereby offer my services as Faculty Advisor. Cordially, Juan Espadas Chairperson Department of Modern Languages Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "GALA Responses: The Controversy Continues," December 10, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource Ronning's letter and GALA Description An account of the resource Studnets and faculty offer their support for Mr. Ronning and one rebuke. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Donna Lorenzo, Douglas Nagy, Juan Espadas Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 10, 1991 Espadas GALA Lorenzo Nagy Ronning https://omeka.ursinus.edu/files/original/e3d4785df7c61b85bc0a5db549325dec.jpg 85b4abf1fde4df45f2532141b5d08241 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Homosexuality is a subject that sparks deep emotion and can bring out strong feelings either good or bad in both the students and faculty of the Ursinus campus. Is there a need for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance on this campus? That seems to be the question that has come about as a result of all the posters that the campus was bombarded with on October 11th. The letter that was sent to the student body also raised some questions. As junior Ralph Handy said, "I was astonished by the letter, I feel they contradicted themselves by not signing the letter, and then saying that they were coming out of the closet. They also said to contact a faculty member, but they did not say who." The GALA constitution went before SAC to be passed on Wednesday October 16th and a decision is still pending. Some problems that were addressed at this meeting were how the club was going to be an active part of the Ursinus community, but remain anonymous. As a clause in the constitution, GALA members want to be anonymous and students that are interested would have to be channeled through a faculty advisor, Dr. Oboler. The committee was trying to determine how they were going to plan events that would involve the whole campus if the members were to be anonymous. One GALA did not want the officers of the club to be listed in the student directory because they were worried about being harassed by other students and the surrounding community. One of the members of the committee asked them if they realized the low opinion of their student peers that they held. This GALA member felt that there is widespread homophobia on this campus and that this campus is just not ready for GALA. Another problem that was addressed was that the GALA constitution stated that alumni could also be eligible to join, but both the committee and GALA seemed to agree to drop this clause. The members of the GALA that were present at the SAC meeting have done their research and have talked with other groups on campuses in this area. They have attended conferences and have worked with PRISMA on how to go about starting a club. The objectives of the club outlined in the constitution include having a social outlet for the homosexual population on campus, give emotional support and counseling within the group about the personal issues of being a homosexual, sponser activities to promote greater self-awareness, and to heighten awarenss and combat homophobia within the Ursinus community. Student reaciton across the campus has been diverse, from "I am against homosexuality" to "I am confused and do not know what to think." One sophomore who wished to remain anonymous commented, "It offends me, gay and lesbian acts are private, and I do not approve of the public organization such as GALA that Ursinus would support." Now it is up to SAC to decide if there is a need for a GALA and if the constitution should be passed. They are debating as to whether the campus will benefit form [sic] the organization or if its confidentiality clause will cause to many problems with student membership. As one sorority pledge said, "I think it is a good idea if they realize the pressure they will be receiving from the Ursinus student body. But they do need a support network just like anybody other club on campus." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "GALA Seeks Recognition," October 22, 1991 Subject The topic of the resource Official recognition of GALA Description An account of the resource Narrative recounting GALA's efforts to be official recognized by the SAC and the various opinions of several members of the student body. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Melisa Miller Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Grizzly Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Ursinus College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 22, 1991 Type The nature or genre of the resource News GALA homosexuality Miller Oboler