Who really belongs at Notre Dame anyway?
Letter to the Editor
There have been a string of letters to the Observer lately that have left me questioning my place here at Notre Dame. The most obvious has been Elizabeth Bauer's aptly titled "Do you really belong here?"
Whether this title is the fault of Ms. Bauer or the Viewpoint editor is irrelevant. What's really important here is the message that letters likethis send out. I can only imagine the flood of letters that the Observer will receive in response to Mike Dillon's letter, asserting that he, like so many others writing Letters to the Editor, doesn't belong at Notre Dame. I think that Patrick Kelly's letter shared some of the opinions I hold, but it did not get quite to the very heart of the matter. What defines us as Notre Dame students?Who really belongs at Notre Dame anyway?
I've been a student here for five long years. During that time, I've known people who aren't Catholic, are Protestant, are Jewish, are Muslim, are agnostic, don't believe in God, don't attend Mass every Sunday, are homosexuals, dress in drag on occasions other than Halloween, dye their hair, weren't born in this country, don't speak English as their first language, can't afford to buy a computer, can't afford to shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, don't have an SUV, live in the "ghetto," are athletes on scholarship, don't drink beer, have never been to a bar, are political liberals and don't like football.
Many of you reading this letter would feel that at least one of the groups mentioned above does not belong at Notre Dame, while others are perfectly welcome. I've gone out of my way to try and name a few things that may be characteristic of people who aren't the norm on campus. Where should the line be drawn between who is welcome and who is not? I'm anticipating the response that those who come here should at least respect Catholic beliefs, if not adhere to them. For those people, I ask, how literally and how completely do you follow the Church's teaching?
Those opposing premarital sexmay one day take birth control. Those opposing homosexuality often spend $39.95 on a t-shirt from Abercrombie and Fitch instead of donating the money to the poor. Those praying for peace may end up working for a Fortune 500 company that produces arms. This isn't a holier-than-thou, out-Catholic-ing session, although it may appear so. I freely admit that, as far as Church teaching is concerned, I am most likely less Catholic than you. What I am, or at least what I hope to be, is more tolerant.
I strongly feel that saying that certain groups don't belong here removes an element of diversity from a campus that so desperately needs it. I am horrified by slanderous comments I hear in passing everyday. We all applied to Notre Dame, we were all accepted to Notre Dame and we all made the conscious choice to be a part of this environment.
If I personally feel that I belong here, what gives you the right to tell me that I don't. In my opinion, the only people that truly "belong" at Notre Dame are those who contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance.
Sarah Dempsey
Fifth year Senior
Pangborn Hall
January 31, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 2, 2000
