Include Me MU is open to public opinion regardless of position. The following was an anonymous comment left on our blog in response to our post “Thanks Maneater”.
“The proposed amendment, I believe is not really necessary. I just do not understand how this will benefit everyone on campus. The minority is trying to get their voice heard and I support that, but to impose a new set of rules and regulations on everyone I think is if nothing else discriminating against all those that don’t identify themselves as a minority group. Maybe gender neutral bathrooms would make other people feel uncomfortable. Maybe names on class rosters are a useful tool for some. When you say “when it doesn’t matter if you come from the suburbs or the streets but a good education is available and accessible for everyone,” this is the most free country on the face of the Earth. Anyone with the drive and desire can overcome adversity and attain all those things of which you speak. Also as far as discrimination by the Columbia P.D. everyone who is young has experinced this. I have had flashights shoved in my face and I have even been put in handcuffs, but you have to remember that the police need to protect themselves, and would do the same thing regardless of who was behind the wheel. I think that this is more of a case of looking for discrimination. When you actively search for it you will find it. I am just not convinced that this is going to benefit me in any way, and quite frankly I think the implementation of some of these policies will be a waste of the University’s money, especially at a time when MU is cutting classes and faculty. That being said, I fully support equality for everyone, but if you think that this is a step towards “complete acceptance” I think that you are completely naive. Simply passing an amendment does not deal directly with the problem at hand and is a poor way to tackle the situation.”
AND, this was Include Me MU’s response…
Being that our very own Columbia Missourian has reported numerous times on the discrimination of the Columbia Police, I refuse to even engage in a dialog with you to the contrary. Your perspective clearly comes from a position of privilege, and again, you are clearly in the same position as The Maneater’s Mr. Bowen. Gender-neutral bathrooms are by no means an immediate request or a request at all for that matter. That could happen 5 to 10 years down the road for all we know. This amendment will, however, protect a student, faculty, or staff member from not being hired by a department or college because of their gender identity be it biological or not.
I am sorry if the idea of equality offends you. I am even more apologetic that you feel as if rules that do not allow you, your peers, faculty and staff to discriminate are unnecessary, but rules like this would not be necessary if minority groups were not discriminated against at all. Hello, Affirmative Action.
Are you saying the idea of having an MU policy that does not allow those around you to practice bigotry and discrimination is an imposition? I respect your opinion, but with all do respect, I do believe that you are the naive one. I by no means think that this amendment changes opinion, however, law and policy be it in the university or at local, state, or national level does call for justice and equality.
Truthfully, I don’t care if the Columbia P.D. shine lights in my car, but don’t tell me that an upper-middle class white male driving to his suburb in a BMW faces the same situation as I do in my Dodge. This country may be free, but people are oppressed in numerous ways. The civil right’s movement is alive and well, my friend. I beseech you to open your eyes.
I will not deny that as Americans we are all allotted privileges that other countries only dream of, however, I refuse to believe or accept that equality is currently accessible for everyone. It’s not, but to that I say, “whatever helps you sleep at night is fine by me.”
Just a small note. Why do people think gender inclusion is going to cost the university so much money? Do they think gender-neutral bathrooms are going to be outrageously expensive (even though that’s not what we’re asking for)? Do they realize that all you have to do to make a gender-neutral bathroom is to drop a different sign next to the door?
Great question, Kayden. It seems like more of a grasping-at-straws kind of defensiveness than a legitimate concern.
Which brings my attention to “this is the most free country on the face of the Earth,” used as a response to the comment originally made that radical would be “when it doesn’t matter if you come from the suburbs or the streets but a good education is available and accessible for everyone.” Whether or not it’s true that this is the “most free country,” there is certainly a debilitating inequality in education, and ignoring it is unfair to those who aren’t even given the right kind of foundation to “overcome adversity.”
Call me radical, but college is free in France.