We Got Anti-LGBT Hate From A Student Newspaper At Notre Dame

[ccharles000]

Does hate roll downhill? I think it's a fair question.

The Pope has a way of saying things that are offensive to many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, with his latest utterance being that gays are an 'attack on creation', as well as his December, 2008 statement that the world needs to be protected against gays and transsexuals.

So would it be any wonder if a United States university that has historic ties to the Catholic Church had a student newspaper that expresses antigay/anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) commentary? And, that ramps up the antigay/anti-LGBT expression by it up a notch or seven-hundred-elevendy-billion? A cartoon published in the Notre Dame University student newspaper The Observer with text provided by the post GLAAD Demands Apology and Retraction of Dangerous Anti-Gay Cartoon at the glaadBLOG:



Panel 1: "What's the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?"

Panel 2: "No idea."

Panel 3: "A baseball bat."

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14841/we-get-lgbt-hate-from-a-student-newspaper-at-notre-dame

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. OMG! To say I am speechless doesn't even begin to cover it.

Is this the for-real official Notre Dame student newspaper? Is it some alternate rag put out by the Young Reactionary Tea Baggers or something?

I can't believe anyone anywhere would publish that.

[HughBeaumont]

2. It takes 3 bigots to write and draw a comic that lame.

Unbelievable.

[boobooday]

3. WTF???

Is there an editor anywhere? Anybody to tell them that this is hateful and not funny?

[TommyO]

4. It's all there at Pam's House Blend

GLAAD contacted The Observer immediately upon seeing this cartoon. The Editor in Chief Jenn Metz relayed a tearful and what appeared to be heartfelt apology by phone. She explained that she was not present when the decision to run this cartoon was made, and that she was incredibly upset that others on staff had made that decision.

[CBGLuthier]

5. Here is their (inadequate) apology

Some how they drag Harry Reid into it.

http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/responsibility-for-offensive-comic-1.1011631



The editors of The Observer would like to publicly apologize for the publication of “The Mobile Party” in the Jan. 13 edition. The burden of responsibility ultimately lies on us for allowing it to go to print.
There is no excuse that can be given and nothing that can be said to reverse the damage that has already been done by this egregious error in judgment.
The Observer, though an independent newspaper, is representative of the community of the University of Notre Dame and the values it so cherishes: family, understanding, service, respect and love.
Allowing this cruel and hateful comic a place on our pages disgraced those values and severely hurt members of our Notre Dame family — our classmates, our friends. For this, we sincerely apologize.
Unfortunately, the language of hate is an everyday reality in our society. Earlier this week, surprising comments made by Sen. Harry Reid about President Barack Obama’s accent and skin color were made public and caused uproar. Now, at Notre Dame, a comic strip including hurtful language was printed in this publication, also causing — and rightly so — serious concern. It becomes clear that hurtful language is still present among some circles, and, too often, it’s not until comments like these become public that their true hatred is acknowledged.
The truth is, these comments should not be made at all, and we will not allow our pages to be a forum for such hatred. Publishing commentary that seems to encourage or support hate against fellow human beings is inexcusable.
We must, however more forward, and look to promote instead a culture of acceptance and support for all.
The Office of Student Affairs and the Gender Relations Center, as well as student groups like the Core Council for Gay and Lesbian Students, have worked tirelessly to foster an educated community and an environment of acceptance and love. We would ask that those currently working toward ending discourses of hate on campus continue to do so. We greatly thank you for your tireless effort.
On our part, we must practice more responsible journalism and editing. That this comic was published reveals holes in our editing practices, which are currently being addressed.
In reevaluating our policies, we hope to ensure The Observer will be able to recover from this low point in its almost 50-year history and once again be able to serve the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s community with the dignity it deserves.
We would like to thank all of those who have called, e-mailed, written and visited our offices this week in outrage.
The content of “The Mobile Party” is in no way representative of the views and opinions of The Observer or the Editorial Board. We hope that as we work together to address this serious issue, we will be able to regain your trust.
We vow to continue to represent the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College in a way that is respectful and accepting of each member of our community.

[surrealAmerican]

6. Wow, way to miss the point on the apology.

These people conveniently sidestep the fact that they were not just "including hurtful language", but encouraging violence against their fellow students.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. from the link - there was editing of the original cartoon to change the answer

in the last panel from "AIDS" to a baseball bat, because the editors didn't want to "make light of a fatal disease" !

Making fun of disease is wrong, but making fun of assault and murder is not? These are some seriously deluded young people. Very weird and awful sense of values and just basic humanity.

On a side note, the fact that they can't write a coherent apology without dragging in something completely irrelevant - Harry Reid- is just further proof that: they cannot judge content, edit or write themselves. Whoever was involved needs to resign, genuflect, and then move on as hopefully a better human being and writer/editor/journalist.

[TexasObserver]

8. Recommend

[Robb]

9. I can't decide which is more appalling

...the cartoon, the lame non-apology, or the fact that if the byline is to be believed it took THREE bigots to draw that. :eyes:

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Maybe you'd like to contact the 'writers' of the 'cartoon'?

Colin Hofman has a website and contact links:

search on his name in google.

""My name is Colin and I just finished my junior year at the University of Notre Dame. I am currently majoring in Graphic Design."


Edited: to remove direct link to website.

[mmonk]

11. Some of the pictures on that site do not appear in my browser.

[ccharles000]

12. kick