Comments on Quick Takes: Layoffs at Xavier U. of La., Georgia Press Withdraws Short Story Collection, Seton Hall Demotes Assistant Dean for Criticizing Church's Anti-Gay Stance, Jail Terms in Chico Hazing Death, Anti-Gay Comment Divides Duquesne

• Subhumans at Dusquene University
• Posted by Arthur Ide, PhD on October 31, 2005 at 7:47am EST

• Subhumans are the intolerant, ignorant neanderthals who refuse to recognize the majesty of diversity, and canonize bigotry and hatred disguised under religious adiaphora. It seems to me that the only "subhuman" is the arrogant student who decided that he was god and could judge others--which means that he is ignorant of Matthew 7:1.

• Subhuman vs. big brother
• Posted by Cicero on October 31, 2005 at 8:47am EST

• Referring to any group of people as "subhuman" is despicable and usually the first step toward genocide. The student's words are clearly repellant.

  It is, however, very frightening to see a university attempt to police thought, however disgusting that thought may be, in the manner that Duquesne has done here. Are we going to start assigning extra-curricular work for the sake of indoctrination now? However noble the intent, the means are clearly unjustified.

  For instance, I teach at a religiously affiliated university and we hope that our students share our religious convictions. But surely (and rightfully so) there would be an uproar if, having "caught" a student expressing atheist sentiments outside of the university's jurisdiction, I assigned that student to write an essay on, say, the divine inspiration of the Gospels.

  Rather than engaging in blunt mind-control, Duquesne should focus on crafting a curriculum that gives its students the logical ability and historical perspective necessary to avoid such repellant ideology as this student as fallen into.

• Who made Duquesne the Nanny of the World?
• Posted by JMG on October 31, 2005 at 9:05am EST

• I had to read that article twice because I couldn't believe it the first time -- not that there are students who are rabidly homophobic, but that University officials thought they could punish a student for expressing unapproved views on a NON-UNIVERSITY website.

  A much more useful response, rather than the bizarre "reeducation camp" approach chosen, would have been to commission the humanities schools to put together an exhibition for the student union on the treatment of gays through the ages -- ending with a computer displaying the student's posting.

  The answer to hateful speech is better speech, not suppression or reeducation camps.

• not necessarily a 1st amendment problem
• Posted by Larry on November 1, 2005 at 7:09pm EST

• It isn't entirely clear whether the students' rights are being violated. His school is not a public school. However, the school, if it chooses to kick him out, may be breaching a contract to him. Now, of course, as the above posters state, the school is behaving irresponsibly if it thinks that forcing someone to write something will cure all problems of bigotry and hatred in the world.