Dear Editor,
On a front page article in the November 15th issue of The Gothic Times, Joel Weiskopf, an adjunct professor in Music, Dance, and Theater was asked for his reaction to President Obama’s re-election, he said it was: “Good for social services, but horrible in other ways. I also believe his endorsement of same-sex marriage is an abomination and could have serious ramifications on our society.” While Professor Weiskopf is certainly entitled to his opinions on the election and we support his right to free speech, we would like to respond to his comments on “same-sex marriage.”
Diversity is fundamental to NJCU’s mission and to our campus community. This commitment includes advancing and defending the individual and collective civil rights of lesbian and gay students, faculty, and staff. We believe that these rights include the right to marry whomever one may choose and to have equal access to the many rights and privileges that are granted to married couples. We also believe that an educational institution that takes its commitment to diversity seriously should publicly challenge language such as that expressed by Professor Weiskopf—language which marginalizes and stigmatizes LGBT students and which creates a context for discrimination and hate to thrive within the wider NJCU community.
We vigorously and unreservedly reject Professor Weiskopf’s words and strongly urge campus leaders on all levels to join us in doing so. As a result perhaps this ugly moment can become an opportunity for ensuring that NJCU remains a safe, supportive, and enriching place for us all.
David Blackmore
Ethan Bumas
Basanti Chakraborty
John C. Cunningham
Shamaine A. Daniels
Jacqueline Ellis
Antoinette Ellis-Williams
Hilary Englert
Xiaoli Fang
Donna Farina
Joshua Fausty
Liza Fiol-Matta
Audrey Fisch
Abisola Gallagher-Hobson
Ellen Garvey
Edvige Giunta
Gail Gordon
Elizabeth Hickey
Helen Hoch
Carolyn Hunter
Karen Ivy
Kimberly Johnson
Alissa Koval-Dhaliwal
Cora Lagos
Yvette Louis
Maria Lynn
Irma Maini
Jason Martinek
Patrice Nelson
Rosa Perez
Ellen Quinn
Mirtha Quintanales
Catherine Raissiguier
Muriel Rand
Tracy Riley
Venida Rodman-Jenkins
Rebecca Vicente
Ann Wallace
Timothy White
Steve • Dec 8, 2012 at 12:16 am
How silly of these faculty members. Nobody in NJCU is being marginalized and this letter serves no purpose. How is it that free speech gets trampled and opinions are only fair to have when they agree with yours. Prof. Weiskopf said nothing of the NJCU community and yet this letter talks about the campus community.
If you want NJCU to be a supportive place for all, then you must support all values. Accepting same-sex marriage is against all fundamental and traditional religions. It is only fair then that individuals would disagree with its legalization. Not that I’m suggesting Prof. Weiskopf is religious, I don’t know, but you make him sound like an out-of-place human being. What you should concern yourselves with is maintaining the safe environment you speak of, and not passing on political points in the name of the school.