We're Watching, Notre Dame

This type of thing would not be tolerated at GW.

But apparently, the publications of Notre Dame University - a university with ties to the Catholic Church, led by a Pope who believes gay people are an "attack on creation" - are perfectly fine with cartoons that preach blatant homophobia.  Take a look at this comic, which appeared in The Observer earlier this month and has since gained national media attention, resulting in the resignation of one of the managing editors:

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

Panel 2: "No idea."

Panel 3: "A baseball bat."

Yes, it's saying what you think it's saying.

You know, here at GW, we're actually pretty lucky.  Sure, things aren't perfect - we don't have a housing system that is fair to our transgendered students, our ROTC kids get kicked out because of their sexuality, and I would be naive to think that everyone here supports gay rights.  But things could be a lot worse; things could be like at Notre Dame, where this sort of cartoon gets published, followed by a half-hearted and self-excusing apology.

But here at GW, we hold ourselves to a higher standard of fair treatment and civility.  And as Assistant News Director for WRGW News, I hold my staff to a higher standard of integrity.

Students of the George Washington University, we all have a responsibility to make sure our generation matures with a mindset more appropriate for the twenty-first century than what this shameful cartoon represents.  Tell Notre Dame that enough is enough: sign the petition urging the university to take the necessary steps to better welcome a minority group onto its campus.  From the text of the petition:

But the roots of homophobia that lie behind the comic strip reach far beyond just the pages of The Observer. The University of Notre Dame has consistently refused to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy, and has consistently refused to recognize LGBT student groups on campus. These decisions fuel the fire of homophobia, and help create a culture at the University where not only hateful comics, but hateful language and actions, can be tolerated.

And the kicker:

Being Catholic does not have to be synonymous with being homophobic.

It certainly doesn't.  So sign the petition; tell NDU that the world is watching.