Student response disappointing

I knew that my Viewpoint ("Taking back the date" Feb 19) would raise eyebrows and cause a stir, but I would never have expected such an immature response from some of my fellow Tufts students. One particularly appalling event occurred as I was walking through the campus center. A student yelled at me from half way across the Commons, shouting that my Viewpoint "sounded intelligent" (which I have since interpreted as sarcasm) and that I was "an embarrassment to Tufts University."

I took a stand saying I was willing to accept The Vagina Monologues challenge for dialogue. Everyone who I have spoken with in the production has said that sparking public discussion -- and even causing controversy -- is what the show is all about. And that is exactly what I did. However, it saddens me that my Tufts brethren have chosen such a low form of debate instead of engaging in dialogue in return.

If you don't agree with me, present your arguments. I welcome all dissenters. But please don't yell, "YOU'RE STUPID!" (essentially) across the campus center. That is not dialogue; that is name-calling. It is pathetic that an opinion that is different from the Tufts mainstream is viewed as an embarrassment to the University. What's an embarrassment to Tufts is this community's intolerance toward people who don't conform to the accepted ideas and beliefs.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the cast and crew of this year's Vagina Monologues for being so willing to discuss with me the important issues raised by the play. They are a wonderful group of intelligent and talented women who truly understand the importance of honest discourse over the V-Day movement. For all interested, they will be hosting an open Vagina Monologues dialogue today at 7:30 in Barnum 104.



Rachel Hoff

LA '04