OUR VIEW: Warning – Content may offend

The Deseret Morning News recently reported that a former Utah State University student moved to California because she felt the environment at USU was inhumane toward a gay or lesbian lifestyle. The article reported that a portion of her reasoning was based on letters to the editor in The Utah Statesman.

It is unfortunate that people have felt threatened or uncomfortable attending class with fellow Aggies, and it is sad that a few outspoken, and maybe extreme, opinions can create an unwelcome feeling for some students, no matter the issue.

It is wonderful that a forum can exist in the pages of a campus newspaper where the public can openly express opinions on various topics. But we hope the letters from a few outspoken people don’t reflect the sentiments of the majority of the university.

Regardless of the issues that may arise, the letters to the editor section of the opinion pages will continue as a public forum. It will function as a place where views can be expressed openly, while following the guidelines already put in place. Even with those guidlines, it should be understood that not all potentially offensive material will be removed during editing.

No matter the gravity of the issue – leaving the toilet seat down, a referee call, affirmative action or gay rights – differences of opinion should never be a reason for members of the campus community to act in a way that would make their neighbor feel unwelcome.

No one should feel threatened by the extreme views expressed in the letters to the editor as if they were the general feeling on campus, and hopefully, we as a student body will be respectful to everyone around us.