In a community forum Tuesday night, more than 40 University students gathered in the EMU to express concerns about the climate of campus and suggested a University effort to educate students about queer issues.
The forum, prompted in large part by the recent debate over whether to fund the Oregon Commentator after the magazine published what some call hate speech, focused mainly on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students’ feelings of personal and emotional safety on campus.
The purpose of the forum, also attended by faculty and administrators, was to begin dialogue not only about the Commentator but about other issues on campus that students said have been ignored.
Heavy emphasis was placed on the lack of University administration accountability and a general lack of awareness and education about queer issues.
“Administration hasn’t gone that far to study policy and find things out,” ethnic studies major Maceo Persson said. “Like, can I go to the (University) Health Center and not be treated like I’m fucked up because of my name and pronouns, and that I have to talk to every teacher before class about my name and pronouns.”
Forum participants said they shouldn’t have to feel like they are being physically threatened for people to take them seriously.
“I get asked if the campus is really safe and then to prove it,” University sophomore and former ASUO Student Senator Emily Sousa said. “I can’t prove if I feel unsafe. They have to take my word for it until it gets violent. It shouldn’t have to get to the point of someone actually being put in danger.”
Forum participants suggested educating students about queer issues through mandatory classes for all freshmen, workshops at IntroDUCKtion, workshops in the residence halls or by changing multicultural requirements.
“One idea is a class that all freshmen have to take that will cover all groups and issues that will also provide tools to deal with transawaren there, such as being asked, “What are you doing in here?” after walking into a women’s restroom.
“The class would be a good place to start,” Macdonald said, adding that optional workshops would only draw those already interested in queer issues. “It doesn’t solve the problem of educating people that don’t want to see the issues … It’s like preaching to the choir.”
Participants said loopholes in the Student Conduct Code are partially to blame for allowing the Commentator to publish what some view as hate speech using incidental fees.
“The Student Conduct Code is very open to interpretation,” Sousa said. She discussed section 19b of the conduct code, which states that harassment in the form of insulting a person in his or her immediate presence is a violation of the code.
“I would say that a publication is immediately in your presence,” Sousa said. “If I, to use a Commentator phrase, said I wanted to ‘hate fuck’ somebody to them, then I sure as hell would be in offense. But because it was in a publication, it’s all wishy-washy.”
Administrators and faculty listened in at the forum to hear what changes students wanted to see on campus.
“My commitment tonight is to come and listen,” Vice President for Student Affairs Anne Leavitt said. “I came and listened and heard from a lot of different students talking from their hearts and experiences and with a lot of expectations.”

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