Student Told To Support Gay Rights Or Get An 'F'

NewsNet5 ^ | 5/8/2

[NativeNewYorker]

KIRTLAND, Ohio -- What if a class assignment forced you to choose between getting a passing grade or following your moral values?

A class at Lakeland Community College was told to wear a pink triangle for the day to symbolize gay pride.

NewsChannel5's Kareen Wynter reported that one student decided to fight it, but it almost cost him the school year.

Many students dream of graduating school with high honors, but this student said that he has little to look forward to in his final weeks.

"It's a moral issue I have," he said. "I pay tuition to come to this school. I shouldn't have to defend my moral issues."

A class project in criminal justice turned sour for the college senior, who we'll call Ian.

The assignment was to wear a pink triangle around school for the day as a symbol of gay rights and then write about the experience. Ian confronted his teacher.

"I asked 'What if a student were to feel uncomfortable with this -- would there be an alternate assignment?'" he said. "She said no."

He, in turn, got an F and faced expulsion.

So why wasn't the student offered a backup assignment? Lakeland administrators said that it is part of classroom policy.

"I think if the situation were easy, it wouldn't have been part of the curriculum," said Barbara Grano of Lakeland.

Still, faculty members said that they didn't break the rules.

"Absolutely, this student had an option," she said.

When NewsChannel5 spoke with Ian later in the day, his teacher had given him an apology note that read, in part, that the requirement was waived.

Ian said that he doesn't think things would have been resolved had NewsChannel5 not gotten involved.

"I appreciate everything you've done," he said.

His mother was happy, too.

"I was thrilled," she said. "Here's a young man who stood up for himself, and it worked."

Professors at Lakeland said that there's a list of things you can and can't challenge in the school's handbook.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Tom.

[ColdSteelTalon]

Unfortunately, the alternative assignment involved a guy named Frederick, a large bottle of Mazola oil, and flowers.

You know he ain't messin when he comes home with the Wesson !!! :-)

[DoughtyOne]

Great point.

[Ann Archy]

It's disgusting that that was an assignment.

[JoeSixPack1]

well, at least it wasn't ebonics and I hope the spelling police are out on break having donuts. :-)

[HDawg]

I work for a landscaping crew in the day, and go to college at night. If I took this course and obeyed by wearing a pink triangle to work, I would soon be seeking other means of employment; the boys I work with are a tough, rugged, macho lot whom have no shame about their negative views of homosexuals.

[Ann Archy]

She's a LESBO...probably a friend of Janet Reno and Hillary...and Rosie....note...alll these lesbos are DEMOCRATS!!

[MarineDad]

...the boys I work with are a tough, rugged, macho lot whom have no shame about their negative views of homosexuals...

In other words, they're NORMAL! Funny, I felt no shame in saying that - go figure. If there's any shame to be had by anybody, it should be the fags. But instead, they've got their bizarre 'PRIDE'. Puke.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Every one of these teachers and school officials should be put in a prison camp!

[Xenalyte]

No current FReeper by that name! :)

[MEGoody]

LOL That's good.

[HDawg]

In other words, they're NORMAL!

You're quite right; I much prefer my workmates as opposed to the pansies I go to school with. It feels good to be in the company of men.

[stands2reason]

Yeah, I did a little research on him. Not only was he a liberal, but he ridiculed people's spelling! I'm amazed he lasted so long.

[EODGUY]

Excellent analogy!

[HDawg]

It feels good to be in the company of men.

I assure everyone, I didn't mean that in a gay way.

[MarineDad]

Yeah, I did a little research on him. Not only was he a liberal, but he ridiculed people's spelling! I'm amazed he lasted so long.

Now that he's got time on his hands, he can go back and socialize with his buddies at the bath house...wearing only a pink triangle.

[Leisler]

So, ah, we don't think the Frau Stienbeck is, um, say, into softball or the LPGA do we?

[MarineDad]

No problem, friend! I'm sure your comment was understood in the context you intended, at least by most participants in the forum. But as an aside, judging from some of the gems I've seen posted in FR, there were probably a few who started to get aroused until you made the clarification - they've got their 'PRIDE', you know!

[jwh_Denver]

The assignment was to wear a pink triangle around school for the day as a symbol of gay rights and then write about the experience.

"Why certainly teach". Then I would have put a big black X on it right in front of this butt plug teacher.

[Map Kernow]

Re picture of professor at #36---I think she looks as if she had a, uh, "personal stake" in forcing students to pretend they're "gay."