Event fliers raise concerns [Coming out Day at Penn State]

The Digital Collegian (Penn State University student newspaper) ^ | November 14, 2003 | Bridget Smith and Jen Winberry

[StopGlobalWhining]

Potentially offensive fliers promoting "Conservative Coming Out Day" were hung around campus yesterday, including one on the door to the Allies office, prompting discussion about their intent.

The posters depict sexually suggestive acts and question overt liberalism at Penn State.

A flier found outside the Allies office, 231 HUB-Robeson Center, said, "One is male. One is female. Let's do it like they do on the discovery channel [sic]," and showed two animals in a sexually suggestive position.

College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia confirmed the group is sponsoring the event, scheduled for noon Thursday on Old Main steps, but said he and other group members would not comment until next week.

Group member Matthew Ritsko said he knew few details aside from the rally's time and place.

Sara Ryan, Allies co-president, said the group has not yet formed an official opinion about the rally and will meet with Battaglia today to discuss the group's motives.

"I don't know how concerned we need to be yet," she said.

She said she is disturbed by references to Pride Week and National Coming Out Day, annual celebrations of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and its allies (LGBTA).

Ryan also pointed out the tendency to automatically associate gays and liberals as having similar beliefs.

"Being conservative doesn't necessarily mean you're anti-LGBT," she said.

Many student activists have also joined in discussion about the rally.

"The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to give people a safe space to come out," Manish Vaidya (senior-social and economic justice) said. "Penn State is a welcoming climate for conservatives, and I think it's ironic for them to feel the need to come out, because they really aren't coming out of anything."

Vaidya said he has not heard of any groups planning to protest at the event.

"I think the event itself is exploitative, but I don't think there should be anyone there protesting," he said. "If they believe in it, let them speak."

Political viewpoints aside, some students said they might consider attending the event out of curiosity.

"I think the idea is ridiculous because they are mocking a serious event," Alana McNichol (non-degree) said. "But it's also good to see the other side. I might go to check it out."

Matt Midles (junior-English) said the group has a right to express its opinions, but added that it could be done in a different way.

"I think it is unfortunate that they have to mock National Coming Out Day and not just have a conservative rally," he said. "Rather than asserting their own issues, they're attacking someone else's."

Kelly Ross, a member of Allies, said she thinks it is as inappropriate to protest the conservative rally as it would be for the College Republicans to protest at Take Back the Night or any other activist rally.

"We don't want to start an on-campus war," she said.

Kamilah Cole (junior-journalism) said it is unfortunate the group chose a national event like National Coming Out Day to serve their interests.

"If they want to come out as conservatives, that is their choice, but the problem comes in when they do it at the expense of others," Cole said. "I have a feeling it's less about coming out and more about riling people up."

Cole and Ross agreed there are "more important" things to do than worry about Conservative Coming Out Day, such as making sure that everyone at the university feels safe and welcome.

Black Caucus President Tiffanie Lewis discouraged students from protesting the event.

"It's upsetting to see they'd mock ... something that is very sacred and serious to most people," she said. "They need to invest their time in something that is more worthwhile to them ... organizations like Allies shouldn't even give it fire, because it's exactly what [College Republicans] want."

[StopGlobalWhining]

It's upsetting to see they'd mock ... something that is very sacred and serious to most people," she said.

Very sacred and serious to most people? Perhaps to the liberal administration at PSU, plus some kook faculty members and a few hopeless students, but certainly not to most students here.

To view one of the "potentially offensive fliers", click on the link at the top for the source URL.

[vpintheak]

Once again the loony left thinks they are mainstream. Their sheer idiocy almost overwhelms me.

[martin_fierro]

My sister just relocated to that wacky 'burg. From Marin County, CA.

I thought it might've been a move for the better, but it's looking more like a lateral move.

[skr]

Uh oh, someone forgot to copyright the "coming-out" phrase. Looks as though just anyone can use it! Of course, debutantes have first dibs, since those wrods were used to describe a young lady's entrance into society. Oh what a difference a few decades make.

[jocon307]

So are all black folks happy with being joined at the hip with the homosexuals?

I'm just asking.

[zook]

Looks like I'll have something to do on Thursday noon.

In a freshman class I was teaching (actually subbing for another professor) there last week, a young woman began bemoaning the fact that pro-life protesters had shown "gross and disgusting" pictures of aborted fetuses. How dare they, she asked. A black woman put up her hand and said, "I was one of those pro-life protestors." We had an interesting discussion after that. After class I spoke to the young black woman, told her I was very impressed with her courage to speak out like that.

[JRandomFreeper]

'Potentially offensive fliers'

Can't we find some conservatives to write 'honest-to-goodness really, really, offensive fliers'? Is the student newspaper so namby-pamby, wishy-washy that they can't identify a literary poke in the eye as 'in your face'?

The question of debate with the leftists boils down to: "How do you have a battle of wits with an unarmed man?"

/john

[concerned about politics]

Of couse the demons will attack. They have but little time left.
Their leader has been cast down to earth having great rage, and they'll do as he commands them.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Yeah, that's great. To come out as a gay or lesbian is some grand reverent thing, but to do it as a conservative is offensive. Fortunately though, like most institutes of higher learning in central Pa, the college is of course liberal but the population of the surrounding rural area is almost always conservative.

[StopGlobalWhining]

Ill be at Old Main Thursday at noon too, even though I came out long ago. I think there are a lot more conservative students nationwide than many people imagine, but they are intimidated by loudmouth liberal students, threatened and harrassed by university administrations, and afraid to speak up in class for fear of having their grade lowered by a liberal professor (more likely a TA).

[concerned about politics]

but they are intimidated by loudmouth liberal students, threatened and harrassed by university administrations, and afraid to speak up in class for fear of having their grade lowered by a liberal professor (more likely a TA).

The brainwashing won't work unless the opposers are silenced. It's like a facist rule. You follow the Marxist handbook, or you're punished for your unfaithfullness.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Whatever liberals say is protected free speech. Whatever conservatives say is hate speech. Remember when Universities were supposed to encourage the free exchange of ideas?

[eggman]

Strange that she would call it sacred. I guess that she considers being gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender as a religion and comming out as one of the sacrements. I shudder at the thought of their other "sacrements".

[zook]

Watch for me then! I'm an older guy (50ish, but told I look younger : ) ) with glasses, probably wearing an old brown leather jacket.

[freesia2]

You're right, SGW, there are some conservative students out there. Sometimes they're brave enough to say what they think, but a lot of the time they are quietly sitting in their classroom seats being inconspicuous. If a professor encourages a conservative viewpoint (doesn't happen often), suddenly you'll see some participation where there was none before. At least that's how it looked to me a couple years ago when I was back in school at PSU as an "older" student.

[StopGlobalWhining]

I'll wear my Free Republic cap that I got at the March for Justice in Washington on October 31, 1968. That was the FreeRepublic rally on the Mall to impeach Bill Clinton. I have the CSPAN tape of the entire event (3 hrs).

[StopGlobalWhining]

My sister just relocated to that wacky 'burg. From Marin County, CA.

She made a good move. The libs make a lot of noise here but they are overwhelmingly outnumbered. The PSU administration is far left, but nothing like those colleges on the left coast.

The surrounding community here outside the boundaries of PSU and where the elite faculty and administration live is very conservative, as are many PSU students. The high schools all close here on the first day of buck season coming up soon. Folks around here don't look fondly on politicians or anyone else who wants to take their guns away from them.

Your sister will feel liberated in comparison to Marin County.

[Hobsonphile]

*snicker*

I think co-opting the language of liberal interest groups is clever. And using sex? Well, that's comedy gold.

Okay, so I'm twelve. *g* But really, those fliers are not malicious. They are appeals to the South Park generation of conservatives that resides on college campuses. Many kids my age are of the "F*ck PC! Kill the sacred cows!" mentality. Crude? Yes, but it's a different turf.

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[LurkedLongEnough]

"Rather than asserting their own issues, they're attacking someone else's."

BWHAAAHAAHAAHAAHAA!!!!!!!!! Just like the Democraps campaigns! There IS a connection!

[shhrubbery!]

"The purpose of National Coming Out Day is to give people a safe space to come out," Manish Vaidya (senior-social and economic justice) said.

Penn State has a social and economic justice major? LOL.