Letter from the Editor
GAY? FINE BY … WHO?
In the past two weeks: Progressive Student Alliance members stood in front of both dining halls, asking for signatures in support of adding sexual orientation to Notre Dame’s non-discrimination clause. Stand Against Hate week featured an academic forum on Homosexuality and Catholicism and a prayer vigil at the Grotto. The “Gay? Fine by Me” T-shirt solidarity event flooded the campus with orange.
What was once a movement fueled primarily by the gay community now has the force of much of the student body behind it. But will it make a difference to the administration?
On page 14, Assistant Culture Editor Courtney Ball follows the history of this debate, from the origins of gay rights student groups, to the attempt to change the non-discrimination clause in 1998, to where this issue may (or may not) be headed in the coming years. In a second section of our cover story, beginning on page 18, in-depth interviews with gay students describe their experience of Notre Dame. Some students explain how they are trying to reconcile their sexuality with their Catholic faith.
What is “Fine by” students? “Fine by” the administration? “Fine by” alumni? “Fine by” the Church? Though the answers to these questions often intersect, none agree completely, and the debate is likely to continue.
WE GOT A WEB SITE!
Well, technically we’ve had one for awhile. But since it’s been stuck on the 2006 Football Review for over a year, we’re excited to announce that from now on, our brilliant and talented Webmaster Phil Langthorne will be making our stories and photos immediately available online at nd.edu/~scholast. Now you can e-mail links to the Gipper to your high school friends, stories about ND’s rich academic environment home to the parents, and articles on our unyielding Catholic character to grandma and grandpa. Be on the lookout for additional features such as reader response forums, bonus interview material and issue archives coming next fall!
CONGRATULATIONS, SENIORS
If the football team doesn’t give you a reason to come back next fall, maybe the recent addition of health foods in the Huddle and new game-day recycling initiatives described in News Notes, pages 6–7, will. And as a special goodbye present, your longtime friend the Gipper has put together a list on page 31 of the top five best tips from your years at ND. Enjoy, and thanks for reading.
See the rest of you in the fall,
