Can’t stereotype CAFES
As a Cal Poly student in the College of Agriculture I would like to say I am saddened by the entire situation at the Crops Unit house, both in the students and the community’s quickness to jump to conclusions.
First of all I am disgusted with the students that were living in the Crops Unit house for their display of horrible racist paraphernalia; their actions are truly despicable.
I would also like to note that I am ashamed that the community has jumped to the conclusion that all students in the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly are racist and/or OK with what has happened. The College of Agriculture is proud of how diverse and well rounded its students are. I hope the community sees that most students in the College of Agriculture are not OK with what has happened and I am not alone when I say that the students do not want to be affiliated with those students who performed such acts.
It would be a shame if one bad apple ruined the whole bunch and I hope that the community sees that the students from the Crops house are not a reflection of the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly.
Alexis White
agricultural communications student
What’s limit to free speech on campus?
I’m curious about the issue regarding the Crops House.
Regarding the freedom of speech law that Cal Poly enforces. Would this instance have been tolerated had it been displayed in the University Union Plaza? A couple of instances come to mind.
A man carrying a sign with “GOD hates lesbians, fags, adulterers, etc” on it, yelling at passerbys in the UU plaza.
An easter bunny hanged in a noose over a christ-esque manger, also in the UU plaza.
An 8 foot-tall purple phalic symbol with “RIP Barney” on Dexter Lawn, with many smaller examples surrounding.
A 15 foot tall abortion-baby littered billboard, obviously causing great distress and discomfort to many students, on Dexter Lawn.
To my knowledge, there were no “hateful” words, no threats of violence. Only people expressing their own radical views, partially as a joke it sounds like. Would Cal Poly not welcome students with neo-nazi beliefs with as open of arms as it would welcome students with lesbian beliefs? I thought that was the entire reason behind Cal Poly’s admission program being the way it was. So as not to judge.
It’s a double-edged sword, the freedom of speech is.
Ross Miller
mechanical engineering senior
The ‘facts’ about Prop 8
Angela Kramer, Cal Poly’s ASI President, recently wrote an article against Proposition 8. I was struck by the unsupported opinions presented as “facts” in her article.
Fact #1 – Proposition 8 does not impact anyone’s civil rights. California law states “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits” as married spouses. The passage of Proposition 8 will not deny any registered gay or lesbian partnership any civil right currently afforded to traditional married couples by the State of California.
Fact #2 – Proposition 8 is about children and parental rights. The courts in Massachusetts, which legalized same sex marriage four years ago, have already ruled that elementary schools must teach children about gay and lesbian marriage and that parents do not have a right to be notified when these topics are taught.
Fact #3 – Proposition 8 will affect religious freedoms. Catholic Charities in Massachusetts was forced to close their doors, after over 100 years in Massachusetts, rather than violate their religious beliefs and place adoptive children with same sex couples.
Fact #4 – Proposition 8 is constitutional…it amends the state constitution. The dissenting opinion by 3 of the 7 California Supreme Court justices describes the decision to impose same sex marriage on California as a “judicial fiat” and finds “no convincing basis in federal or California jurisprudence” for the court’s decision.
While I strongly disagree with the opinions presented by Ms. Kramer, I do agree that we should all “know the facts” and vote our conscious.
Brent Nuttall
architectural engineering instructor