My Letter to Hope College Dean of Students Richard Frost October 28, 2009
Posted by johnthrasher in Personally John, Political, Travel.Tags: Dustin Lance Black, Hope College, LGBT, Perez Hilton, Richard Frost
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Not sure if you have heard this news, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
The ‘Dean of Students’ at Hope College, Richard Frost, banned the “Milk” Academy Award-Winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black from speaking to a screenwriting class because according to Frost, “from past experience, strongly-opinionated speakers usually don’t further academic discussions about gay, lesbian or transgender issues.”
So who is going to talk about these issues? Mousy, evangelical Christians?
In response to Dean Frost’s selfish, politically motivated banning, I wrote the following letter to him, and CC’ed the President of the College, as well as a man named Mr. Wolternik, whose title is “V.P. of College Advancement” in hopes that his authority and background in ‘advancing colleges’ would help keep Mr. Frost from making mistakes like these again.
If you would like to contact Richard Frost and let him know how you feel, his e-mail address is frost@hope.edu If you feel so inclined to call his office, his number is 616-395-7800.
Here’s the letter:
Mr. Frost,
Let me make this short and to the point. You banning an Academy Award winning screenwriter from a screenwriting class because of your personal, selfish views on one of the most pressing and engaging social issues of our time is not only sad, but is reason to call upon your resignation from the position of Dean of Students. You seem to be making careless decisions based on your old-fashioned, ignorant ideals and not Hope College students’ educations or their futures.
As a student at West Virginia University, I would be appalled if my Dean banned an industry expert to speak in my class, and frankly, you should be embarrassed by your decision. Thankfully, though, you are not my Dean.
I’ve CC’ed various members of the Hope College Administrative Council, including Mr. Scott Wolterink, the V.P. of College Advancement, who I hope will use his authority in “college advancement” to outline some of your mistakes with this decision.
Hopefully, in the future your mistakes and personal political agenda will not jeopardize the education or career opportunities of the student body at Hope College, as they have recently.
Warmly,
John N. Thrasher, V
Hey, just to let you know I am one of those students stranded at this awful college and preparing to transfer. Hope is not a liberal arts school: It is a matriculate to “do your work, plug in your thinking, and get the grade and get out” kind of school. The mission statement clearly states that they “emphasize openness and freedom”, and most of the student body is totally ok with having him come to speak. That is not to say that many of them believe that homosexuality is ok, and I respect their views despite my fervent belief that they are only based in ignorance on the issue, but how do you REALLY know what your viewpoints are if you are never exposed to another side to things?
Also, Dustin Lance Black is totally all about reconciling the church community and the gay community, so “polarizing” and “too opinionated” don’t even apply to him. I respect the college’s position on homosexuality as they are a private college, but I DO NOT respect their banning of another side. The college is already polarized against homosexuality in many ways, so Mr. Black’s appearance would only serve to help balance that seesaw.
I forgot to thank you for writing that letter. You have no idea how much we Hopers who are severely disappointed in this administrative decision apppreciate it.
Sierra, thanks so much for the kind words. I am so sorry that students at this ‘private’ university are put under such horrible demands and expectations.
‘Private’ school shouldn’t mean living under an authoritarian dictatorship. This isn’t nazi Germany.