Friday, June 18, 2010 4:20pm
Two students at Southern Oregon University aged 19 and 20 recently took a permanent marker to a gender inclusive floor of one of the residence halls on their campus where they wrote homophobic slurs on the doors of the students. Several LGBTQ students lived on the floor.
The two boys were charged with second degree criminal mischief and intimidation. The intimidation charges were dropped, and the boys were fined for second degree criminal mischief after pleading guilty and offering an apology.
Admittedly, I thought this was a slap on the wrist at best. I was a little upset that the boys weren't expelled, but then I thought about it and read some more. What service would SOU being doing those boys by expelling them? As an higher education institution, it is the job of the university to educate those boys both in their academic course work, and of the ways of the world. Would expelling them really teach them that spreading that kind of poison (to borrow from Glee) is unacceptable, or would it merely leave them vulnerable to the kind of people, who prey on those with feelings of resentment. Perhaps, these two young men will learn from their volunteer work that those words are truly harmful to all people, and that it is the duty of all people to stand up for what is right.
Two students at Southern Oregon University aged 19 and 20 recently took a permanent marker to a gender inclusive floor of one of the residence halls on their campus where they wrote homophobic slurs on the doors of the students. Several LGBTQ students lived on the floor.
The two boys were charged with second degree criminal mischief and intimidation. The intimidation charges were dropped, and the boys were fined for second degree criminal mischief after pleading guilty and offering an apology.
"Kevin and I would like to say that we're deeply and sincerely sorry to all that were affected," Adkins said.
"Absolutely," said Novotny, who sat beside Adkins in an empty SOU math classroom.
"We're good people, we just made a mistake," Adkins added. "It was a reckless act. It wasn't supposed to be a hate crime or anything like that. It was a poor choice of words."
The university had to decide what course of action it would take. Initially, the thought was severity would range anywhere from a one-year suspension to permanent removal from the institution. Instead the two are receiving an education. Kevin Novotny and Blake Adkins must complete volunteer service at Queer and Women's Resource Centers in addition the Multicultural Center and attend a gay rights meeting.Admittedly, I thought this was a slap on the wrist at best. I was a little upset that the boys weren't expelled, but then I thought about it and read some more. What service would SOU being doing those boys by expelling them? As an higher education institution, it is the job of the university to educate those boys both in their academic course work, and of the ways of the world. Would expelling them really teach them that spreading that kind of poison (to borrow from Glee) is unacceptable, or would it merely leave them vulnerable to the kind of people, who prey on those with feelings of resentment. Perhaps, these two young men will learn from their volunteer work that those words are truly harmful to all people, and that it is the duty of all people to stand up for what is right.
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