UIowa Takes Steps Against Gay-bashing

The Daily Iowan Editorial Board

For a long time, the UI has prided itself on providing a progressive, inclusive community for all. . . . When a gay-bashing remark was discovered in a men's North Hall restroom, the university reflected its inclusive, honorable stance by confronting the issue head on. Iowa City is a gay-, lesbian-, bisexual-, transgender-friendly haven that will not tolerate any type of bigotry.

It would have been easy for the university to turn a blind eye on the scrawled hate speech. . . . However, when the message that called [a] UI teaching assistant . . . a derogatory name was found, the university decided to take a stand.

That this particular remark was targeted at a respectable member of the UI community gives the university a unique opportunity to educate others about the effects of gay-bashing. This specific instance has far greater scope and magnitude. The DI reported on Wednesday that in response to the issue, the School of Social Work plans to review and revamp its “Safe Zone” program, which takes the responsibility of educating faculty on how to handle issues of sexual harassment. It is of utmost importance for the UI to handle these offenses with vital sensitivity and also to continue providing safe environments for all types of people. This notion has become a cornerstone of the university's image.

Both the university and [the teaching assistant] are worthy of the highest praise for bringing this issue to the forefront instead of keeping it hush-hush. Their stances have ensured that hateful behavior will not be met with permissiveness and insensitivity.

Read the complete op/ed piece here.