News-Letter articles helpful to Security
As my time of retirement from my position of director of security draws rapidly near I write to thank the editors and staff of the News-Letter, present and past, for your contribution to the safety of the Homewood Campus community and the dedicated men and women of the security department. In your reporting and editorializing on campus security throughout my 13 years as director you have encouraged us, supported us, rightfully taken us to task on occasion, and always challenged us to do better. Frankly, you have oftentimes been the best inspector of campus police and escort services performance a security director could hope to have.
In my earlier years as security director at Homewood it was our good fortune to partner with a very involved and cohesive Student Council. Working with the Council's appointed representatives, we learned of and addressed student issues and security concerns quickly and resolutely. Unfortunately, that meaningful level of Student Council and Security interaction has been missed in recent years. During this void, however, many committed members of the News-Letter have rendered a valuable service to the undergraduate community by providing communication between the security department and the student body through timely, thorough and balanced reporting.
Of the things I will take with me into retirement none will be treasured more than the many campus security related articles, editorials, and commentary I have clipped from the News-Letter over these thirteen years.
To the News-Letter editors and staff; to the entire student body my sincere thanks and good wishes.
Ronald J. Mullen
Director of Security, Parking and Transportation Services
Editorial on DSAGA misses the point
In response to last week's editorial on DSAGA's Awareness Days program, some clarification is in order. When claiming that the Tranny Road Show was "over the top," mistaken assumptions were made that the event wouldn't reach out to non-GLBT Hopkins students. In fact, it was one of our most cost-efficient and well-attended events, full of entertaining performances aimed at increasing trans-awareness. Because spreading awareness in our larger community is important, the event was especially a success with a large number of outside community members attending. Local Baltimore participation from gay and straight people is very important in establishing a safe community that's open to everyone.
Our most successful event was ANT's performance during Spring Fair. The audience represented many sexualities on campus, and when ANT started telling jokes that centered on his life as an openly gay man it was clear that students aren't so reluctant to approach events relating to GLBT issues.
We had a screening and discussion of "Angels in America," which deals with AIDS, homophobia, and the rights of GLBT people in America. Other speakers (Michelle Tea and Robo Sapien) showed different ways that GLBT people have chosen to voice their opinions, both in music and literature.
Maybe the problem wasn't our lineup, but the requests from some to dilute the content of it in order to appease the broader community. Forcing a cultural group to compromise its identity is perhaps the most harmful way to approach diversity.
Joelen Pastva
Financial Officer, DSAGA
