Had a great chat this evening with Andrew and Fynn on the quad. We were talking about the imminent arrival of the conference being held at Exeter by Christian Concern, a super-evangelical group which advocates (among other things) conversion therapy for homosexuals. This term has seen quite a furore about the situation because, quite frankly, it's not fair for the governing body of College to allow people to stay who hold views which are not only abhorrent but are also likely to have a negative effect on the mental state of the students. This secondary point is the more relevant for college in this instance, I think. One can chirrup merrily away about free speech and conclude that, yes, I suppose, people are allowed to say whatever they like, even if their views are offensive. College is a place which is used as a conference venue, and is as much a home of free speech as any other.
BUT. College is a place which its students consider their home, and where they expect to feel safe. It is a place where fragile people come out of their shells and accept who they are and how they relate to others. Many many people come out at university. University is viewed as an environment of acceptance, trust and support. Exeter doesn't just stop being part of the university of Oxford when term ends, especially not when Hilary term ends and all the Finalists (lit. - very stressed people) stay up in order to revise. Introducing a group of people who dogmatically oppose the acceptance espoused by the very nature of the university at what many people feel is a crucial time is a stress that we ought not to have to deal with. Yadda yadda yadda, free speech applies everywhere, etc etc. That's all very well, in theory. Yet for a university with such a strong commitment to academic excellence (and for a College which thinks it's going the same way) it just seems absolutely ludicrous that it didn't occur to anyone the effect this might have on the people they ought least to want it to affect. Andrew said earlier he was nervous about them coming. I'm a bit nervous about them coming. I'm sure there are plenty of others who feel the same.
What is most frustrating in all of this is the obfuscation of the issue by the Rector, which flies in the face of what every other Fellow of the College thinks, and the sheer apathy of every member of the JCR who is too blinkered to see that this affects them too. We all have gay friends here. I don't understand why we aren't standing up for them.
My rage at the Rector knows increasingly fewer bounds. She still thinks that everyone in college is as clued up on the subject as the few who bother to turn up to meetings about it are. When the story first broke in the OxStu (the slightly classier - if there can be such a thing - student newspaper) she sent an email round to the JCR which effectively said nothing. After a meeting, attended by the College's gay community, the JCR president and secretary, and me (but open to the whole JCR...) I mentioned that no-one that hadn't had it from the horse's mouth knew exactly what was going on. She agreed that she should sent around an email of clarification. A week later, I emailed to remind her. She finally did, and put a message up on the College website, but I still don't feel it's really done the trick. It's also been in the Daily Mail (I added my comment...).
For the Rector, the issue is not one of free speech, or concern for her students. It is purely fiscal. Even after all this palaver (and that after nearly four years here) she still hasn't got a clue who I am, because I've never shown an interest in a career in the city, and I don't attend any networking-type events. Since I've been here, my interest has been for museums, teaching and academia - all (comparatively) low paid jobs. She'll never make any money out of me so I'm not worth her getting to know. She is a cash-oriented machine of a woman, who thinks she understands what makes the world turn. Unfortunately, the more people there are who think like her, the more the system will come to be valued only in cash-terms, and the more groups like Christian Concern will be invited in to gain some extra funds. The students will always be the second-class citizens in such a system. I'm sure that's not how it's supposed to work...
There will be a protest taking place on Sunday in Turl Street. Come and wave a flag about and feel virtuous. But be nice to the porters.
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