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When one of my roommates stormed into our house ranting about Dr. Diggs' infamous speech regarding the medical affects of homosexuality last semester, I knew I needed to speak out. However, I am a procrastinator by nature, and my letter (although crafted beautifully in my mind) never made it into print.
I watched the St. Mary's game on ESPN2 Monday night and did not have a second thought about it until one of my professors dropped a bombshell. At the beginning of class, he wrote the words "Brokeback Mountain" on the board and asked my classmates if we knew why this could be a topic of conversation in today's class. A few of my classmates raised their hands, and I soon learned of the fiasco that took place during Monday night's game.
Apparently, a picture of one of the other team's players kissing another guy had been apprehended from the Internet, made into fliers, and handed out to members of the Kennel Club. This was followed by the student section heckling the player by cheering "Brokeback Mountain." The cheer in itself does not anger me (as the movie was simply a love story, and an excellent one at that), however the context and intent of the cheer was immature and unnecessary.
I wish words could convey the embarrassment, disappointment, anger and confusion I feel right now. Although I was not present in this audience, I know not all members of the student section participated in this cheer and many may (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt) not have been aware of the cheer's implications. To these fans, I applaud your ability to resist joining the rest of the crowd and I pity you for the anger and embarrassment many of you probably held in during those moments.
To those members of the student body who participated in the cheer, I'd like to offer a situation to explain my outrage at this blatant disregard of acceptance and respect for all. Imagine yourself as a homosexual individual in the midst of your peers, classmates and friends during this "Brokeback Mountain" cheer. Imagine looking around at the jeering faces, your friends reveling in their victorious cries. My guess is that if you were this person, you would feel just as our fellow classmate Michael Gleason did after Diggs' speech: "I am not welcome at Gonzaga - or at least, I no longer feel so" (Gonzaga Bulletin, Opinion Column, Nov. 4, 2005).
Although I realize that this cheer was intended to throw off the St. Mary's player's game, the line must be drawn. I simply do not understand how a student body claiming to live by Jesuit principles of acceptance and respect for all can allow an incident like this to happen and remain silent. I know many students, like myself, that are completely appalled that an event like this took place at Gonzaga. I can only hope that we will speak out and take action to let other students and the administration know that allowing this type of outright discrimination to happen at Gonzaga is embarrassing, immature, disrespectful and completely unacceptable.
Callie Monroe is a senior at Gonzaga.
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