About 250 students, faculty and community members gathered on April 14 at an open forum sponsored by Alliance, in connection with the departments of sociology and anthropology, to address issues associated with the cancellation of the same-sex marriage forum.
The original forum entitled “Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples: An Educational Forum,” was abruptly cancelled after the administration learned that members of the Connecticut General Assembly were sent a letter of invitation to the event by the external sponsor, Love Makes a Family, and decided that Alliance, the student run organization, had lost control of the event.
Kathryn Turcsany ’05, vice president of Alliance, said that she told administrators that the event was not held to influence legislators and that she had not lost control of the event.
“That could not be further from the truth, and the entire situation exhibits an extreme lack of professionalism and heavy handedness on the part of the university,” she said, “as well as a lack of communication among members of the administration and a disconnectedness with the needs of not only diverse students, but those who wish to educate themselves on current social issues on this campus.”
On April 14, President Jeffrey von Arx expressed his concern of the forum in a campus-wide e-mail saying that he made the decision with consultation from senior administrators after learning of the information.
“In cancelling the event,” said Fr. von Arx in his notice, “it was my hope that the faculty of Fairfield would assist our students in putting together a forum on the important public issues of domestic partner legislation and same sex marriage that would provide the university community an opportunity to discuss the issues in a more appropriate academic setting.”
The forum was originally sponsored by the Fairfield University Alliance, an on-campus club, and by 11 off-campus organizations. The initial speakers and panelists were not present on Thursday night.
“The issue of balance is an interesting issue because the balance we are looking for is intellectual honesty,” said William Schimpf, vice president of student services.
Dr. Joy Gordon, professor of philosophy, said that balance is no reason to cancel an event.
“We typically don’t have balance in any event,” said Gordon, “we have a speaker, and that speaker puts forth his thoughts.”
Dr. Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies at Fairfield University, said in a formal statement read by Gordon that academic freedom distinguishes Fairfield University in all that it does as a Catholic institution.
“Our doors should be open and our podiums available to all those who do not preach hatred, whether it is racially based, religiously based, or simple homophobia,” he said. “Nor should we imagine that having speakers who represent one side of an issue is in itself problematic…Openness is not endorsement of opinions expressed, but of the freedom to express them.”
Dozens of students took the microphone and addressed issues of censorship, academic freedom and student life on campus.
“We cannot promote diversity if we are being made to keep quiet,” said Lauren Blanchette ’06.
Although many students took advantage of the forum to voice that President von Arx was absent, Fr. von Arx showed up half way through the event.
“I know that many of you disagree with me deeply…But this was my decision,” said Fr. von Arx, who took the blame for the cancellation of the original event.
Fr. von Arx said he was saddened that many students felt alienated from the Fairfield community, and that he will continue this dialogue with faculty and students in the future.
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