Build a culture of respect
The white flyers inserted in the Oregon Daily Emerald this week, paid for by Yahoo! and published as advertising by the ODE, brought many calls of concern, outrage, anxiety and anger to offices in student affairs. Students, student leaders and student-affairs staff who read the Emerald reacted negatively to the ads. The ads seemed to these readers to be in poor taste, offensive and an affront to the culture of respect we seek here that honors the rights, safety, dignity and worth of every individual. In addition, most readers who spoke to my office found the ads crude, ineffective and obscure in their advertising message.
The University has a strong tradition of freedom of thought and expression. The Oregon Daily Emerald has a long history as an independent newspaper on this campus. The ODE editorial staff and advertising staff function independently. It is my hope that these staff also function collaboratively with sensitivity and support for the community we build together here. Ads such as these do not affirm our community standards of respect for the rights and well-being of all members. Rather than promoting diversity of opinions, ideas and backgrounds, these ads promote feelings of bigotry, intimidation and insult to much of the readership. ODE — you can do better. Please join us in building, not breaking, our culture of respect.
 

Anne Leavitt

University of Oregon Associate Vice President & Dean of Students