A source at Pomona just emailed me this email from President Oxtoby.
To: The Pomona College Community"Aftermath"? I would have used a different word, but then again, I wouldn't have endorsed -- or come close to endorsing a position that isn't in my power to endorse.
From: David Oxtoby, President
In the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 8, I have received a number of messages of concern from faculty, students, and staff at Pomona College. As you know, the issue of gay marriage has generated considerable debate both here in California and throughout the country.
I recognize of course that members of our community have different views on this particular proposition and on the underlying issues. I trust, though, that you will join me in expressing support for those who feel negatively affected by the passage of this measure. Whatever our views, we can affirm together that Pomona College will remain an inclusive and tolerant community that respects difference and welcomes diversity
Notice how he doesn't say anything about the Republicans who have had their property destroyed and nothing has been done by President Oxtoby. We lost an entire election and yet Oxtoby doesn't say anything about treating Republicans uncivilly, like say, yelling in front of their dorm rooms. Just what diversity does President Oxtoby covet? The email is a clue, but I leave it for you to draw the conclusions, dear readers.
6 comments:
Don't be shocked if Oxtoby witch-hunts faculty and staff that donated money to prop 8. It's California law that any person who donates over $1000 to a proposition reveal name, address, and employer and it be public record.
Er...so now if you say that you should be nice to people who are said, you're violating your nonprofit status? He doesn't actually endorse a political position here, you realize. He's basically saying, "Hey, don't me mean."
And that's a position we can ALL endorse! :)
Amanda
Sorry, I meant "people who are sad", and "don't be mean". Yikes. I guess it's late.
Amanda, you really don't think there's anything suggesting a political point of view in that email? The use of the word "aftermath"? Or even the fact that he decided it was necessary to send out an email saying, in effect, that people who voted yes on prop 8 hurt a lot of people on campus?
Why didn't he send out an email about the "aftermath" of Obama's victory, telling students to support those who felt negatively affected? If even the idea of that email seems ridiculous, ask yourself why you can imagine Oxtoby giving the campus's support to those disappointed by Prop 8, but not those disappointed by Obama's election. I think it has something to do with his ideological leanings. Although the email pretends to be non-partisan, it's a ridiculously obvious expression of Oxtoby's personal political views.
Look, although I don't vote in California, I would've voted no on Prop 8. I'm not opposed to gay marriage (though I do wish the courts would leave the issue alone, but that's another story). And I sympathize with and support students who were upset by the passage of Prop 8. But Oxtoby's letter was inappropriate. It was an obvious statement of his own political beliefs (however much he tried to deny it), and he should not be sending stuff like that to the student body.
Does everything need to be a fight? It sounds to me like the author of this article loves conflict.
Why didn't he send out an email about the "aftermath" of Obama's victory, telling students to support those who felt negatively affected?
Well, in fairness, Obama's election won't (at least in the immediate future) prevent a specific group of people from taking a specific action. Proposition 8 does.
People who are deeply upset by John McCain's loss are feeling the way the other side felt when Bush was re-elected in 2004 (and FYI, the campus didn't receive an e-mail like this then - I was there!), which sucks and is sad, but it's not quite the same thing as the state of California having decided that you no longer have the right to do something that 90+ percent of the population gets to do.
At some point, even those folks who oppose same-sex marriage can recognize that it must really be sad to know that you can never marry your significant other, or ANY significant other. Regardless of Oxtoby's political views, that's not an unreasonable request of the student body: to have some sympathy for people whose lives were changed in a very real and immediate way by the outcome of that vote.
Amanda
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