According to Assistant Director of Health Education Gretchen Krull, the faculty advisor of the Peer Advocates, there have been several incidents in which students have used homophobic slurs, the most noticeable of which was the band at the Luau. "Students have been noticing the use of language, people saying things like 'Don't be such a fag' or 'That's so gay,'" Krull said. "The excessive use of these words on campus has left many people, including allies and members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, feeling disconcerted."
Erin Murphy '05, a peer advocate, explained that the Advocates decided to put out the table tents again this year because of the ongoing use of homophobic slurs among students at the College. "These table tents are part of a series that use frequently-heard quotes or phrases and try to emphasize how they make GLBTQ students feel. As of late, we have noticed casual and frequent use of insensitive language on campus," said Murphy. "These table tents are meant to raise awareness, encourage discussion and foster open-mindedness towards all students in the campus community and are part of a serious effort by the administration and campus groups to create a climate of respect."
For Ed McCabe '05, a member of the Pride Alliance, the table tents are an effective way to provide important pieces of information to a majority of students at the College. "I think that the table tents are an important-if hokey-piece of our on-going campaign," he said. "They are subtle, in that they aren't required reading, but they are powerful and, I must believe, effective."
McCabe explained that after the incident at the Luau, Pride Alliance did not ask Social Council or the Naughty Muffins for an apology. "I wanted to see how the students would react without pressure from the administration, and I could not have been more pleased with the reaction we received," he said. "It's my feeling that change needs to come from the bottom and not the top and I believe the administration agrees. The administration's actions encourage that student-level action, and I think that's the right way to go about it."
President Anthony Marx is working with the faculty to further discourage students from using such slurs which many find offensive. "I have had some discussions with mostly faculty and staff at this point about their concerns about the too-easy use of epithets," he said. "These words may not even be chosen for the meaning of the words." Marx added that students may not even realize the effect of the words on students who feel the epithet is directed at them.
For Marx, it is essential that the students and faculty at the College express the highest degree of respect for their peers and co-workers. "This is a community where we have to respect each other, where we have to learn how not to be hurtful to each other, either thoughtlessly or thoughtfully," said Marx. "If we can't do that at Amherst College, what chance do we have of that in the larger society? We are conscious of the protections of freedom of speech, but we expect students to be conscious that words can be hurtful."
McCabe believes that even at the College, which generally boasts such a welcoming environment, the use of homophobic slurs must be handled carefully. "That doesn't mean we should let incidents go by without proper reactions; it does mean that we need to not overreact when these things happen," he said. "We're all going to leave Amherst some day and deal with incidents even more serious than those that happen here."