"After careful review of all the evidence I find Social Council guilty of discrimination, and therefore guilty of 'violating the rights, dignity, and integrity' of gay, lesbian and bisexual students," wrote Haynes in his findings against SoCo.
SoCo has been placed under "warning" status for one year. According to the Student Handbook, a warning is "a written admonition which will be considered in determining penalties if future violations occur."
"I agree with [Haynes'] statement that we unintentionally excluded a portion of the campus and as a Social Council we regret this action," said SoCo President Erica Hewes '02. "In the future we are working on finding or creating a matching program that suits the needs of all students on campus."
"I don't think they intended to discriminate," said Marisol Thomer '02, advisor of the Queer/Straight Alliance (QSA). "But they did."
Thomer was one of the students who wrote a formal complaint against SoCo following Computer Dating TAP.
"Lots of people on campus are upset with SoCo," said Thomer. "We had gone through amicable discussion last year [after Computer Dating TAP] and it didn't work out."
"SoCo would like to make their events open to everyone," said Haynes. "[The current members of SoCo] were not aware of the conversations that took place last year."
"Social Council did not handle the event in the best way," said SoCo Secretary Meredith De Meules '02. "But I must say that since we did not know of any complaints from the year before, we ended up using the same computer program after we were unable to find a better one. If we had known of complaints, the event would not have been put on without finding a suitable program."
The one request made by Thomer, Eric Thalasinos '02, John Abodeely '01, Jennifer Salcido '04 and Brad Walters '02 that was not met is a request for an apology from SoCo.
Thomer said that, while she would have liked an apology, she does not plan on appealing Haynes' decision in order to get one.
"[The members of SoCo] are good people. They have a large job to do and they are trying to do it," she said. "It's up to both sides to make things better."
"[SoCo is] attempting to address things that are brought to their attention," said Haynes.
Thomer said that discriminatory behavior by SoCo is not only felt by the gay community.
"I have heard the same complaints in other communities," said Thomer. "This isn't something that just the LBGT community is feeling."
In addition to the warning given to SoCo, Haynes also wrote that SoCo is required to "work with the Director of Student Activities ... in retaining a computer company which can provide a same sex option as part of the [Computer Dating TAP] program survey form."
Haynes added that "the form must clearly utilize language which is not confusing and/or insulting to bisexual, gay, and lesbian students."
If SoCo cannot find a company that is able to provide these services Haynes' letter indicates that Computer Dating TAP will be cancelled.
"If those efforts prove fruitless, the 'Computer Dating TAP' will not be allowed to happen again!" wrote Haynes.
Haynes' letter also mandated that in the future SoCo advertise Computer Dating TAP at least 10 days prior to the event, "so as to create an opportunity for students to voice their concerns prior to the event."
"[Last year, the complainants] felt like [their concerns] fell on deaf ears," said Haynes. "I can assure you that's not the case this year."
Haynes' findings also required SoCo to "exercise more sensitivity in the theme selection of other questionable TAP programs, by reviewing content (on a regular basis) with the Director of Student Activities."
The last requirement was for SoCo to "enter into a co-sponsorship (by providing funds) with one of the self identified bisexual, gay, and lesbian student organizations on the Amherst College campus, for one event before the end of the current academic year."
Thomer said that members of the LBGT community have already met with SoCo in regard to upcoming Screw Your Roommate TAP.
Suggesting that the concerns of the LBGT community have only been partially addressed, Thomer said, "I think [Haynes' letter] is the first step, and I emphasize first-there are many more to come."
Thomer also said she would like members of the LBGT community to apply for positions on SoCo in the future, noting that members of SoCo were not adequately familiar with the aims of the QSA when it filed a complaint.
"They didn't know our names-they didn't know the QSA," said Thomer. "It bespeaks a little. This is the sensitivity that Dean Haynes was talking about."
According to Thomer, the next step is to have SoCo hear complaints from the student body.
"As for the future, we have taken an active role in soliciting feedback from the LBGT community for Screw Your Roommate TAP and met with one of the leaders of the QSA to discuss planning cosponsored events in the future," said Hewes.
Thomer said that usually it is hard to accuse campus groups of insensitivity towards the LBGT community because discrimination is subtle.
"We could address this issue because it was so clear cut," she said. "It's not a personal vendetta. But there's finally some justice on this campus."