Hamline's stance on the marriage amendment
What do we all think of the way President Hanson has handled the stance on the amendment? Do you think that the students should be protesting? Personally, I believe that the university did the right thing in backing away from the issue as not to alienate anyone. If the university would say no, the say yes people would be alienated and vise versa. Here, the university choses not to take a stance to not say a statement that the whole student body doesn't all believe in. If the university would take stance, what would it do? That would not convince anyone to vote either way. Wouldn't it be more beneficial for the protesters to actually go out and inform the community about this? What are your opinions?
posted by Anonymous @ 8:48 PM
3 Comments:
I agree that I think it is a smart idea to take a neutral stance on the marriage amendment. I think taking a side would make Hamline less appealing to future students because taking a side on any issue would mean that you are associating our school with a view that those students may not agree with. I like the idea of a college being open to multiple ideas and being able to form your own ideas with out having a college pushing their ideas down your throat.
We discussed the occurrences of the last few days in my Intro to Social Justice Issues class to examine some of the arguments students made in response to Hamline's stance on the amendment, and I must say that it really opened my eyes.
When the email first came out about the University's stance, I thought that it was an ok decision. Then I began discussing it more and listening and observing.
Two of the main arguments that students made in opposition to President Hanson and the Board of Trustees response, was that this is not, and should not be made to be, a political issue, it is an issue of human and civil rights, and according to Hamline's mission statement, we are an institution committed to these values, and second, that an opposition to the amendment is basically the same as a neutral position, because if the amendment is opposed, nothing is going to change in terms of LGBT rights. It is still illegal for gay couples to marry in MN.
After discussing these viewpoints, I think that they are more valid than any that President Hanson and the Board put forth.
President Hanson began her address to the students on Tuesday by explaining who the Hamlline Community includes: students, staff, faculty, alumni, board members...yet the only opinions that were taken into account before the "Hamline Community's" stance was announced, was the Board of Trustees. That is 24 people. The faculty vote had not yet been tallied (and when it was it was overwhelmingly to publicly oppose the amendment) and the majority of students obviously oppose the amendment. President Hanson contradicted herself in the first few minutes of her address.
I agree that the community needs to be aware and informed of the implications of the amendment, but seeing a reputable institution like Hamline openly oppose it, may help to do just that.
I found this whole thing to be fascinating to watch and I am glad to see students are so passionate about an issue. I appreciated hearing different opinions and arguments.
I also like seeing so many students so passionate about an issue. But I disagree with you. I think by taking a stance, they would outcast a group of Hamline students. They are stepping back from the issue not taking a neutral stance. Afterall, the school can't vote anyways. Each student is allowed their own opinion and can vote how they want. The school saying one way or another won't change that. The school is inviting all opinions to the matter not just one side.
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