Silber’s forced closure of the Gay/Straight Alliance at the Boston University Academy is completely unjustified, almost to the point of immorality. Having authority over the massive BU student body does not seem to be enough, so he has taken it upon himself to influence the younger generations simply because they are students on his campus.

The ultimatum presented to BU Academy Headmaster James Tracy is uncalled for and dictator-like. Silber’s fear of sexuality amongst students of all ages is one that he has to overcome, not by attempting to remove it from society and academia, but rather by promoting tolerance and acceptance of the different types of people that make the world go round.

As many letters to the editor have already stated, high school is where teenagers come to terms with who they are through confusion, frustration and, many times, ridicule. To get through all of that, groups are formed for people to openly talk about its causes and possible solutions. As some of the students at BU Academy have already said, the purpose of the alliance was not to discuss sex, as BU spokesman Kevin Carleton states as Silber’s reasoning for this whole mess.

Academia is not only about textbook learning, but also about the society in which we all have to be functional members. By preventing students who may be faced with problems presented by society, due to ignorance and narrow-mindedness, from discussing their problems, Silber is also preventing the opportunity for a practical solution. With the forced closure of the Gay Straight Alliance, Silber has taken a step backward in trying to promote tolerance. High school is where tolerance and acceptance for any differences are taught and learned. By not allowing kids with common interests — even if it is their choice of sexuality — to get together in school is dead wrong.