BSC fracas erupts between professor, Rainbow Alliance
Diana L. Benanti
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: News
Four Rainbow Alliance members were manning a table in the Busch Student Center on Oct. 9. A strange acting man caught the attention of the students after he walked past the table a few times. He eventually approached the table and began arguing with the students.
A student at the table, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the man told the students at the table he was a Saint Louis University professor.
"He inappropriately harassed us on our views regarding the rights and lifestyles of homosexuals and our action to try and bring equality," said the student.
According to the students, the man continued to berate and criticize their stance for approximately 45 minutes. At one point, a BSC staff member approached the table and asked if there was a problem; other people also took notice of the disturbance, and the fact that both the students and the man were lobbing Bible passages at each other in raised voices. Neither the students nor the man lodged any formal complaints.
The students defended their views, but the man refused to leave them alone, even after repeated requests. He refused to give his name.
A few of the students were brought to tears during the encounter. And some of them sought advice from Campus Ministry on how to deal with the invective.
Rainbow Alliance's adviser, Matt LeBlanc said the professor will be dealt with accordingly, and the situation is now in the hands of the Office of the Provost, the dean of the professor's school and Phil Lyons, associate vice president of student development.
LeBlanc said Lyons will be meeting with the students involved, to make sure that their needs are met.
"It bothers me that a person with those sort of feelings works anywhere, you know, he overstepped his bounds," LeBlanc said. "He kind of came onto the students' turf. It's not right for a faculty member to yell at students to the point that they cry in the middle of the student center."
Campus Ministry assisted the students with counseling, and though it took several weeks, the students finally sought consequences for the professor's inappropriate confrontation. The situation was turned over to LeBlanc.
A student at the table, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the man told the students at the table he was a Saint Louis University professor.
"He inappropriately harassed us on our views regarding the rights and lifestyles of homosexuals and our action to try and bring equality," said the student.
According to the students, the man continued to berate and criticize their stance for approximately 45 minutes. At one point, a BSC staff member approached the table and asked if there was a problem; other people also took notice of the disturbance, and the fact that both the students and the man were lobbing Bible passages at each other in raised voices. Neither the students nor the man lodged any formal complaints.
The students defended their views, but the man refused to leave them alone, even after repeated requests. He refused to give his name.
A few of the students were brought to tears during the encounter. And some of them sought advice from Campus Ministry on how to deal with the invective.
Rainbow Alliance's adviser, Matt LeBlanc said the professor will be dealt with accordingly, and the situation is now in the hands of the Office of the Provost, the dean of the professor's school and Phil Lyons, associate vice president of student development.
LeBlanc said Lyons will be meeting with the students involved, to make sure that their needs are met.
"It bothers me that a person with those sort of feelings works anywhere, you know, he overstepped his bounds," LeBlanc said. "He kind of came onto the students' turf. It's not right for a faculty member to yell at students to the point that they cry in the middle of the student center."
Campus Ministry assisted the students with counseling, and though it took several weeks, the students finally sought consequences for the professor's inappropriate confrontation. The situation was turned over to LeBlanc.
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