During the past couple of weeks many incidents have occurred that have brought to light the hypocrisy of this university’s administration. The first was during Pride Week when the Alliance of Lesbian, Bi, Gay and Transgendered students attempted to get a “kiss-in” passed.
This did get passed - but not without the alliance having to fight the administration. The administration in its own words was “afraid of recruitment.” This word confuses me: was it afraid the alliance was going to recruit heterosexuals into its “lifestyle” or was it afraid a potential freshman would choose not to attend our university?
The next occurrence was finding out about the infiltration of Students for Economic Justice. The only thing that disappoints me more than the behavior of the administration in this matter is that it expects us to believe the tripe it calls “reasons” for its actions. I personally am offended by its doubt in the level of our intelligence.
The last incident I will mention occurred last Wednesday. Everyone notices the credit card booths set up over campus offering a cleverly designed T-shirt in exchange for you signing up for credit. It’s a great plan - get young kids to exchange their souls for a scrap of fabric.
However, as I walked into Wells Hall and glanced at the shirts, I discovered them to be offensive. One said, “Freshman girls: get ’em while they’re skinny.” When I and a friend brought them to the gentleman’s attention, he blew us off.
Well, once again this is an example of MSU’s claim to multiculturalism, great on paper but not so good in practice. The booth has been brought to the administration’s attention numerous times and nothing has been done about their sexist and ablest propaganda. A lot of people reading this will probably say I am being “too sensitive” and “it’s no big deal.”
To that I reply: When do things stop being no big deal and when do we start to care? I ask you how much discrimination is acceptable, or is it only acceptable when it’s not being projected at you?
Kyeorda Kemp
Lyman Briggs
microbiology sophomore
