Silber’s “Red Scare”

Like many Boston University faculty, staff, and students I received news of, then President, John Westling’s resignation from his position. After being thoroughly shocked by that I was disgusted and horrified to discover who had replaced him as interim-President: our very own Dictator, I’m sorry Chancellor.

I spent the rest of the summer wondering if I would be returning to the Boston University I knew and loved, or something more akin to Riker’s Island. My arrival on campus was marked with happiness to see my friends and no sweeping changes from the Chancellor’s Office. I had heard from many people that the Chancellor was becoming more open-minded about things and that he was going to consider changes to the much abhorred Guest Policy. I decided to become more open-minded myself and to give Chancellor Silber a chance at redemption for the asinine, insulting, and low-class statements he had made at the student body all through my freshman year – until I saw a headline in September 9th’s METRO: “Silber disbands BU’s gay-straight student alliance”. The Chancellor’s reasoning was “he believed the group promoted premarital sex.”

As an openly-gay student here at Boston University it saddens and angers me to think that an administrator as academically accomplished as the Chancellor would hold such views against the student body he governs. The very reason gay-straight alliances exist is dispel the stereotypes of gay culture that the Chancellor obviously holds.

I feel it is also worthy to note that on a campus that celebrates diversity, enjoys a vibrant culture from students of all nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, and education backgrounds the only homophobia or discrimination I have come across is from our highest ranking and highest paid official. It is a good feeling to know that my parents and I pay $38,000 a year to keep someone as vile as Silber in a position where he continues to hold power.