Curator's comments spark support for diversity

A UM Curator's comments, which some have perceived as homophobic, have sparked a quick response from campus governing bodies, which have drafted resolutions expressing support for diversity on campus.

In a committee meeting of the Board of Curators at UM-Kansas City on Oct. 5, the topic of course and program review was brought up during the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. During that portion of the meeting, Curator David Wasinger discussed the possibility of course cuts.

Student Government Association Comptroller Shanna Carpenter said Wasinger began speaking about classes he said needed to be dropped. "The only example he gave was one called 'Queer Theory.'"

Thomas Helton, chair of the Intercampus Student Council and SGA vice president, said that his jaw dropped after Wasinger made his comments. Other attendants at the meeting had the same expression on their faces.

"I turned to Shanna [Carpenter] and she muttered some words that I shouldn't say," he said.

Timothy Farmer, associate professor of the college of business, said one of the curators made what appeared to be homophobic comments in the context of curricular review. He said those comments started some actions by student leadership in response to "considerable upset on our campus."

"Needless to say, I was very upset and a number of our students were upset," Farmer said.

Wasinger defended his comments in an e-mail statement, he said that "on their face" the descriptions of Queer Theory courses "appear[s] to be demeaning to homosexuals." Karen Mills, administrative assistant at the Murphy Wasinger L.C. law office, located in St. Louis, sent the e-mail.

"More importantly," he said, "I noted that the University has chemistry labs that are in dire need of repair, and inquired whether our limited resources would be better spent on other programs such as math and sciences."

"Queer Theory is one of the new frontiers of sociology and identity theory studies and it is important for the University to keep academic programs modern," Carpenter said. "It seemed to me that Curator Wasinger was confused about the process by which courses are chosen," she said. "He's not informed about how courses should be chosen."

Helton said what Wasinger said was "out of line" and "irresponsible." He said the SGA was concerned because they do not want Wasinger's comments to "effect or implement any changes."

At the SGA meeting held Oct. 13, a resolution said "the UM Board of Curators or any other governing body should not discontinue or in any other way not support classes that meet the mission of the system."

The resolution that also stated a demand for a "comprehensive and diverse range of classes [be] offered at the University of Missouri" was passed.

ISC will present the resolution to all UM-system campuses' governing student bodies for approval. UM- St. Louis was the first campus to present and pass the resolution.

UM-St. Louis Faculty Senate also passed a resolution at a meeting held Oct. 10. The resolution stated, "There have been homophobic comments made by a member of the Board of Curators" and "the Faculty Senate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis rejects all forms of bigotry, including homophobia."

Wasinger said he was "deeply disturbed, disappointed and surprised" that his comments "would be deemed as 'homophobic.'"

"The UMSL Faculty Senate and I apparently respectfully disagree about where Missouri taxpayers' money should be allocated," he said. "The Senate is attempting to chill a meaningful dialogue about the academic merit of courses such as 'Queer Theory'."