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Letters to the EditorEditor, I was very disappointed by a response that I received recently, actually, the re-opening of the Athena to be exact. I am a single mother of two, a graduate of Ohio University, a graduate student in the School of Theater and a community member. I have been living in Athens since 1996, my freshman year of college. During the six years I have been here, the university has seen many changes: a new baseball stadium, a “better” and more roomy Peden Staduim, Grover Center’s “facelift,” the razing of the graffiti wall, and these are just to name a few. The opening of the Athena grabbed my attention. I thought it would be nice to see how OU remodeled the old theater. I must say I was impressed until I went into the restrooms. I did say I had two children, right? Well, one of my two little ones is still a baby. In other words, he must still have his diaper changed. I had to change him on the floor, and not the bathroom floor because that was too wet and dirty. I changed him on the carpeted floor of the upstairs lobby. This was not too big of a deal. I have had to change my children many places other than a restroom with a Koala Care changing table here at OU. I was especially excited when the Front Room added sofas. I have noticed some signs the university is realizing there are more students here who do have the need for changing facilities. Not to mention the fact the community does use the facilities here on campus. I did not realize how behind OU was until I had my first child. A stroller made me conscious of all the obstacles a handicapped person might face on this campus. Was anyone else aware that it is impossible to enter Lindley with a stroller or wheelchair unless you entered from the alley in back? No, the handicapped entrance in front is usually locked, even during business hours now that the Hearing and Speech Clinic has moved. Isn’t it funny that in the College of Education, one with wheels must go to the second floor to use the handicapped restroom? Or my latest query to the manager of the Athena, “Is there a suggestion box?” What may I help you with? “I noticed that there weren’t any changing tables in the bathroom…” Oh, well, this is mainly for the students’ use; we won’t be showing many kids’ movies. Aren’t I a student? Is it possible that if I have a child who needs a diaper changed that he or she might not be able to understand the movie? Might mommy want a night out with that quiet, soundly sleeping newborn? If my child were here to see a movie, might they be out of diapers and into underwear? As a community member, I’m angry. Is not the Athena part of my community? As a student, I’m angry. My needs should be met as a student, just as any other students’ needs. I’ve obviously paid my dues, haven’t I? I need a changing table for my child if I should choose to go to the movies, even if it is with my baby who sleeps through anything.
– Liana Flores
Editor, I'm sending this in response to the letter to the editor in Monday’s paper “OUT SCOUTS calls for support.” In the letter, the writer of the OUT SCOUTS movement declares openly that the community of Athens should rise up in an effective mutiny against the national council, and he makes an implication that all adult leaders in the boy scouts are homophobes and discriminators. I honestly think that the writer needs to check his information a little more clearly before opening fire on an organization such as the Boy Scouts of America. I myself am a scout; I've been associated with them for over 18 years as a cub, an Eagle Scout and now an Assistant Scoutmaster to my troop. I am not a homophobe nor do I honestly care what sexual orientation the scouts in my troop are. We are not all the horrible, discriminating, hate mongers the letter paints us to be. I will admit, there are some leaders who are elderly and set in their ways, and any discriminatory ideals they hold are a product of the times and values they grew up with. This past weekend, I attended a ceremony in which two young men in my troop received the rank of Eagle, the highest honor that can be earned by a scout. If you could see the pride in their faces and in the faces of the friends and family who were present, you would have been moved to tears as many people at the ceremony were. Only 2 percent of all scouts earn the rank of Eagle; it is an achievement not to be taken lightly in any way. And today I read this letter, which denounces that ceremony as a gathering of hate mongers. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the equality of all human beings, and I have nothing against the gay and lesbian communities. However, it is my belief that the road to peace cannot be a road of screaming, protesting and boycotting. What this will lead to is a fostering of conflict, not an end to it. Trying to force someone to accept your ideals only makes that person more adverse to them, and history will reflect this on many occasions. When an organization built upon teamwork and brotherhood is attacked as a whole, then every individual member of that organization also is attacked. I feel I am justified in being angry as I feel I have been attacked and have been called a homophobe and a discriminator just because I happen to be a scout. This is an organization that has existed for almost a century and has molded many boys into men of integrity and morals, and I am very proud of what the Boy Scouts of America has done for me in shaping who I am today. Now the organization is starting to die; I can see it in my own troop. It is dying because of attacks such as this one. The organization is accused openly of fostering hatred against the gay community, and therefore people are encouraged to turn away from it and attack it. It will be a very sad day indeed when the Boy Scouts of America fades into the history books, and I sincerely hope that day doesn't happen because of a social rift.
– Jason Forshey |