‘Heterosexual Privilege’ Bulletin Board in University of
Wisconsin Dorm Creates Controversy
by Kelly Ward 17 Jun 2015
If you’re one of the
600+ students living in Ogg Hall at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison, you’ve noticed a bulletin board near the first
floor elevators. It wasn’t the board’s colorful design and cutouts that
has caused a stir the campus community, it was one of the flaps on
the interactive educational piece
which defined the term “heterosexual privilege” as “benefits automatically
derived from being or being perceived as being heterosexual.”
According to UW Director of Residence Life, Fred Fotis, the
typical bulletin board put up in the dorms has to do with issues that are
important for the mainly first and second year residents, such as fire safety,
study tips, and career exploration. These boards are only allowed to be put up
by Housing staff and must be “reviewed by the Residence Life Coordinator, who
is the live-in professional staff member in the building.”
“I’m not surprised something like that got put up,” said
Zachary VanNatta, a senior majoring in agronomy. “It’s a waste of money and
inappropriate for a dorm, especially as university-sanctioned material.”
“I do not mind [the bulletin board] because the purpose of
these boards is to educate and make people learn,” said Mohammed Aldolaijan,
who lived in Ogg Hall when the bulletin board was up. Aldolaijan
mentioned that the board was in one of the most highly visible spots in the
dorm – near the lobby elevators, where almost everyone living or taking classes
in the six floor building passes multiple times a day.
Fotis echoed the same sentiment as Aldolaijan – “We think
[the boards] help make an active and inquisitive community. Residents read them
– they spark conversation and thinking.”
Will Doty was also in favor of the bulletin board, which got
multiple complaints from both students and parents. “It’s necessary,” said
Doty, a sophomore neurobiology major. “Straight folks need to understand a lot
of stigma still exists against people who are [LGBTQ] even if it is not
hateful.” Doty mentioned that “people misunderstand privilege to be something
like an entitlement complex – it’s really an unearned benefit that comes from
discrimination.”
There were many people that disagreed with Doty on both the
concept of privilege and the necessity of the bulletin board – including the
mother of both a current and a prospective UW student. When asked how she would
feel if she saw this while on a dorm tour with her son, she said “I would have
major misgivings – what kind of school supports that?” When given Doty’s
definition of privilege, the mother, who would prefer to remain anonymous,
said, “Why do you make everyone feel bad about themselves while you’re making a
small, marginalized group feel good about themselves?”
Sophomore Lauren Kaberlein agreed with the mother’s
comments. “I have never heard of heterosexual privilege until seeing this
bulletin board and have no idea where that concept came from,” Kaberlein said.
“I feel it is targeting heterosexuals for no reason. It’s almost implying I am
wrong for being heterosexual because I get ‘special treatment.’”
Other students, like Sean Bray, are conflicted by the
message of the board. “I personally don’t like the term [heterosexual
privilege], but the purpose the board serves is important.” Bray, a senior,
also made the point that it was important for boards like this one to go up on
campus because they start dialogue. “College is absolutely the place to have
this discussion,” he said.
Although the content of the board started debate, the
biggest concern for VanNatta would have to be the lack of a bulletin board with
opposing views, and the lack of opposing views shown by Housing in general. “In
my opinion that space should be used to display useful information related to
resident life, not peddle one-sided talking points.” Kaberlein agreed, adding,
“It should not be in a dorm or any public bulletin board.”
And as for the mother of a current and prospective student,
she said she saw it coming and had some harsh words for the creator of the
bulletin board. “The only purpose it serves is for that RA or Housing staff
member who made it to feel better about themselves. I’d expect it, especially
at that school, but I wouldn’t want my kids to go look at it.”
Education
John
I. Wilson was an executive director at the National Education Association, and is a director at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
Note: John Stocks is an
executive director at the National
Education Association, and the chairman for the Democracy Alliance.
George
Soros was a member of the Democracy
Alliance, a contributor for the American
Bridge 21st Century, and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for Demos, the People for the
American Way, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).
American
Bridge 21st Century was a contributor for the National Education Association.
Demos
was a funder for the National Education
Association.
Reg
Weaver was the president of the National
Education Association, and is a director at the People for the American Way.
Donna
E. Shalala was a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank),
and the chancellor for the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Richard
C. Blum is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank),
married to Senator Dianne Feinstein,
and a governing council member for the Wilderness
Society.
William J. Cronon
is a governing council member for the Wilderness
Society, and a professor at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison.
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