2_________
WEdNEsdAy, J anuary 19, 2000
Opinion
ThE CI ac I camas P rint
Academic freedom or
prejudiced opiniori?
The Clackamas Print Opinion Editor, SalenaDeLa Cruz interviewed Donald Epstein regarding this statement-
"You are better off dead than beinga homosexual "-allegedly madeduringhisJudaic Studies Class. Excerpts below are
from that interview as well as the interview The Printhadwith theJosh Alexander, the student whofiled the complaint
Alexander
Epstein
Print: What we heard is that you said, “People are better off dead than being a Alexander: I had two encounters with Epstein, one in the classroom and then I
went to him to talk about it. First of all he stated that he was close to retirement
homosexual.”
and did not care what people thought of what he said or what people said to him.
Epstein'. Yeah. That’s what the Bible...1 didn’t say that.
It seemed to me that he was just basically saying that he could do whatever he
Print". People say you are an outrageous teacher.
Epstein'. I am very outrageous. I am politically incorrect.
wanted.
Basically the biggest thing he said was you are better off dead than being
Print'. Do you feel it’s too outrageous sometimes, or just your protocol?
Epstein'. Nothing is too outrageous. Students have been exposed to politically homosexual. I know Jewish (belief) does not allow homosexuality..... later in his
correct since elementary school and somebody has to stir them up. When we office he showed me in the (Hebrew Bible) where it says men shall not lie next to
look at our cultural diversity, we don’t seem to think that even political diversity men as men lie next to women; but in the classroom we had not been talking about
is of value. We just have to have different people, all thinking alike. My point of that. It seemed like he said you’re better off being dead than homosexual just to
view is I don’t care what kind of people you have, but we don’t all think alike. So, antagonize. He was using that classroom, he was using Judaism and that line in
people have to be exposed to different point of views. They are not exposed to the (Bible) as an excuse to bash homosexuals.
I told him, I believe everyone has a right to his own opinion, no matter what it
different people just because they look different, they need to be exposed to
different people that think different. I don’t have to think like those people do is, no matter if I disagree with it or not, but in the classroom I don’t believe you
should bring your own prejudices.....
and most people think I should.
I was disappointed— I signed up for the class because I wanted to learn more
Print'. O.k.. Any last takes on it (the student complaint)?
Epstein: No, I don’t know what to make of it. It’s normal for students to drop about the Holocaust..... it’s a disappointment not to be able to take a class that is
class just because they didn’t particularly think my point of view was valid. I’m objective.
not trying to say anything in my defense, but in a Judaic Studies courses if you Print’. Would you feel that way if it were any issue other than homosexuality?
don’t cite the Bible—what are you going to cite? I think this is something homo Alexander: Yes, he could be bashing anyone..... it wouldn’t change anything.
sexuals don’t seem to appreciate. They think the Bible is invalid. And moral You’re better off dead than homosexual? No one needs to say that, it isn’t rel
judgement is invalid. And for the purpose of Judaic Studies the Bible is valid. evant. What if he was to say you’re better off dead than being black? Would that
And all judgements are very valid. And I might add that... That which is morally fly?
Print: l am going to ask a very hard question—Are you gay?
wrong should not be legally right. And that you can quote me on.
Alexander: No.
Print: How does it feel to be news?
Epstein'. I have been news for 30 years. I have been outraging people for 30 Print: So, this is totally a matter of principal for you?
Alexander: Yes.
years.
A Student'sVoice...
'Words will never hurt me'
To whom it may concern:
I would like to respond to the
article regarding being of
fended by instructors or mate
rial at school.
I am reminded of the old
phrase “sticks and stones may
break my bones, but names will
never hurt me.”
While I think that some
word are offensive and some
may actually hurt your feel
ings, we all need to look be
low the surface to examine the
meaning and behavior behind
the words before we form
opinions.
If an instructor is making
statements that are deemed
“politically incorrect” is that
instructor demonstrating be
haviors that actually are bias
in nature? For instance, if an
instructor says that he is sexist
and thinks women have a certain
role, does he treat the females in
his class differently than the
males? Does he grade his stu
dents based upon gender? If so,
then we have a problem. More
than likely, the instructor is fair
in his practices and entitled to
his own opinion.
A popular and charismatic
teacher can get away with much
more than a teacher with whom
you share no common bond.
Often, the perception by the
students seems to be based on
their personal opinion of the
teacher rather than the state-
ment itself.
I think when we look for
things to offend us, we will in
variably find them. I think we
have to look beyond the words
and attempt to see if there is
truly any bias in practice. If a
teacher is unfair in his treat
ment of students, yes, this is
an issue. Should teachers ca
ter to students with (as the ar
ticle stated) “low tolerance
level for bias?” I don’t think
so. Maybe this provides an
opportunity to re-examine our
personal biases and if in fact
if it is the words themselves
that bother us.
When we begin to worry and
dissect every word in fear of of
fending someone. How far are
we from ceasing to share or
even have opinions that differ
from the ones popularly held.
Sincerely,
Lori Sanders
Student
Business Manager:
Edi t or-i n-Chief
Karl Katzke (x2578)
John Thorburn (x2447)
Photo Editor:
Managing Editor:
Sarah Welch
Megan Oldenstadt
Cartoonist:
Design Editor:
Joel Gunderson
Chris Lundgren
Timothy A. Bell
Feature Editor:
Shelbi Wescott
StafT:
Toni McMichael
Jason Lingel
Maggie Jirasek
Joel P. Shempert
Matt Shempert
A & E Editor:
Angie Daschel
News Editor:
Sandy Lupo
Associate News Editor:
Diana Scrivner
Secretary:
JoAnne Gale
Sports Editor:
19600 S. Molili* A ve . O regon City. O reçon 97045
(5Ò5) 657-6958 ext 2509
CCCp R i N T @ CIA C k A M A S.C C.O R.U S
Mandy Good
Advisor:
Linda Vogt (x2310)
Opinion Editor:
Salena De La Cruz
The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an hon
est, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions ex
pressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily re
flect those of the student body, college administration,
its faculty, or The Clackamas Print advertisers. Prod
ucts and services advertised in The Clackamas Print
are not neccesarily endorsed by anyone associated with
The Clackamas Print. The advertising rate is $4.75 per
column inch. All signed letters to the editor should be
300 words or less and will be considered for publication
if submitted by 1 pm the Friday prior to publication. All
signed letters submitted for A Student's Voice/Another
Voice should be 500 words or less and will be consid
ered for publication if submitted by I pm the Friday
prior to publication. Both Letters to the Editor and A
Studen's Voice/Another Voice are subject to editing.The
Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distrib
uted every Wednesday except during Finals week. The
Clackamas Print Copyright 1999.