Saint Mary's mission is to educate
Sarah Beth Bailey
Le Mans Hall
I am writing in response to the negative letters about the Saint Mary's sponsorship of student participation in a pro-choice conference.
We can talk about the Catholic identity at Catholic institutions until we are blue in the face, but what is more important to recognize is that Saint Mary's and Notre Dame are educational institutions. In order to educate, an institution has to allow its students to explore all ideas and views in society.
It cannot possibly be accurate that simply because I attend a Catholic institution I have to live in a closed off, conservative bubble for my college years and adult life. I would be extremely disappointed that I wasted an entire college career by never questioning or probing into the ideas that I have been indoctrinated with since childhood.
I have based my life on the assumption that learning is fostered through unique and diverse experiences. I commend the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership for allowing women "across the street" to develop into open-minded, strong, moral, informed and intelligent individuals that are able to make up their own minds about important issues.
The Catholic identity of this fine institution has provided its students with a sound basis of ethics and values that we will use to forge our own paths and stations in life.
God forbid, this institution provides its students with the freedom to learn and be educated through first hand experience.
God forbid, women be allotted the support to think outside of the Notre Dame, Indiana bubble without being labeled "immoral and ignorant."
God forbid, women be intelligent enough to make their own informed choices.
Given Eric Glass's overall portrayal of women in his letter, I suppose he is surprised that a Saint Mary's woman, or any woman at all for that matter, would be gifted enough to articulate her ideas on paper.
Glass might also be surprised that a woman from Saint Mary's would have enough time to write this letter, due to all the "immoral" (sluttish) and "ignorant" (stupid) behavior and activities that we all so obviously participate in.
Sarah Beth Bailey
Le Mans Hall
junior
Jan. 31
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, February 3, 2003
