Re: Singly Disappointed

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Posted by John Meyers on February 01, 19100 at 19:11:00:

In Reply to: Singly Disappointed posted by Erik Woodbury on February 01, 19100 at 09:03:18:

I have to agree with Erik. For those
who were not in attendance at the meeting on
Sunday Jan. 30, here were my points:

1) As Erik said, Singled Out is by all means
one our four-star events. Other houses go
so far as to avoid putting anything on that
might conflict with it. As our events
are substance-free, it is VERY hard to come
up with events that can draw the entire campus
together. As a House, Singled Out gives us
a chance to break the stereo type Erik mentioned.
While Coffee Houses, Midweeks, and other "typical"
Howard programming is still great, but it only does
little to attract non Howard affiliates.

2) The negative stigma that MTV cast on Singled
Out does not apply to Bowdoin. Howard's version
has been toned down significantly from MTV.
Secondly, MTV's shameful actions towards the
special edition gay/lesbian of the show have
absolutely nothing to do with Bowdoin.

3) The show does not promote any stereotype.
We merely bring people together. If a person
feels that they could not choose a same-sex
relationship without fear of reprisal, this was
not Howard's intent. While I would like to
say that won't happen here, the tolerance issue
lies with the Bowdoin community. Singled Out
was not going to do anything to change it for
better or worse. Yet it might promote discussion
of these problems and steps towards more tolerance.

4) Howard contacted the BGSA months before the
event. The BGSA decided not to oppose the
event, granted there was some tension. Those
who announced their intent to protest this event
did so as individuals, not as the BGSA. No large
event can appease everyone. As long as we were
not offending an entire group or community, I
recognise the individuals concern, but I felt we
should have continued.

This has been a very difficult time for Howard.
The issues we had to deal with were indeed serious
and important. I think it is healthy to continue
this discussion, as the issues have much broader
scope than just Howard's events. As House, we
need to move on to new ideas, some of which
are already in the works.

John

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: I have to agree with Erik. For those : who were not in attendance at the meeting on : Sunday Jan. 30, here were my points: : 1) As Erik said, Singled Out is by all means : one our four-star events. Other houses go : so far as to avoid putting anything on that : might conflict with it. As our events : are substance-free, it is VERY hard to come : up with events that can draw the entire campus : together. As a House, Singled Out gives us : a chance to break the stereo type Erik mentioned. : While Coffee Houses, Midweeks, and other "typical" : Howard programming is still great, but it only does : little to attract non Howard affiliates. : 2) The negative stigma that MTV cast on Singled : Out does not apply to Bowdoin. Howard's version : has been toned down significantly from MTV. : Secondly, MTV's shameful actions towards the : special edition gay/lesbian of the show have : absolutely nothing to do with Bowdoin. : 3) The show does not promote any stereotype. : We merely bring people together. If a person : feels that they could not choose a same-sex : relationship without fear of reprisal, this was : not Howard's intent. While I would like to : say that won't happen here, the tolerance issue : lies with the Bowdoin community. Singled Out : was not going to do anything to change it for : better or worse. Yet it might promote discussion : of these problems and steps towards more tolerance. : 4) Howard contacted the BGSA months before the : event. The BGSA decided not to oppose the : event, granted there was some tension. Those : who announced their intent to protest this event : did so as individuals, not as the BGSA. No large : event can appease everyone. As long as we were : not offending an entire group or community, I : recognise the individuals concern, but I felt we : should have continued. : This has been a very difficult time for Howard. : The issues we had to deal with were indeed serious : and important. I think it is healthy to continue : this discussion, as the issues have much broader : scope than just Howard's events. As House, we : need to move on to new ideas, some of which : are already in the works. : John

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