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LETTER: Be a Chippewa

By on March 19, 2012 7:45 am / 6 comments

 

As I saw the streets fill with students it initially made me feel good. Students were all coming together to celebrate, as it should be.

What I didn’t see coming were the comments and slurs I personally heard. The hateful, disgusting words I heard come out of CMU students’ mouths was appalling. Whether they were intoxicated or not is beside the point.

Throughout the course of the day I heard many people call others faggot, queer, nigger and homo, just as examples.

I ask that all students remember where we are and who you are. You are all Chippewas and our motto is Sapientia, Virtus, Amicitia. That stands for wisdom, virtue and friendship. We do not discriminate, hate or belittle anybody.

These words are not acceptable anywhere, but in Mount Pleasant that is even more so true. This city is diverse in ways that some cities will never have the pleasure of knowing. We have students from more than 20 countries, a proud LGBT community and many different religious backgrounds. Every student and member of our community has the right to feel safe and welcome at Central Michigan University.

The respect and honor that students gain by attending CMU should be represented with every word you say and every action you commit to.

I see these comments as an opportunity to grow as a student body. We are here to learn and grow as individuals, not just so that we can have superior careers but so that we can all be contributing members of society.

I am asking each and every person on this campus to live up to our motto and remember who you are. This campus is meant to be and will be the most welcoming campus in the state, if not the nation. I love Central Michigan University and I am proud to call this city my home, so please be courteous, kind, accepting and with that a Chippewa.

As Always,

Fire Up Chips

Vince Cavataio

Student Government Association President and Shelby Township senior

 
 
 

6 Comments

  1. Michmediaperson says:
    March 19, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Vince, one question.

    First, I agree with you.  I never use this language.

    However, you said these words aren’t acceptable anywhere.

    So, does that mean you are going to ban rap music with these words in the lyrics????

    From reading what you’re saying, any rap music songs with these lyrics should be banned from campus.

     I would think anyone caught gets a warning and a trip to sensitivity training.  Second time, they’re prohibited from campus.

    Let us know when the ban begins.

    Reply
  2. Vincent P. Cavataio says:
    March 19, 2012 at 11:24 am

    You’re taking this completely out of context. My only suggestion is to re-read my article and look at the intent.  My intent is to improve on respect and acceptance on our campus, not in Hollywood. 

    Reply
  3. Enough already says:
    March 19, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Michmediaperson, haven’t we already discussed caricaturing others’ views in another thread? C’mon, now. You know better, and I hope you can do better.

    Reply
  4. Michmediaperson says:
    March 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    Vince, it either went over your head or I gotcha and you won’t admit to it.

    I agree that those words have no business on campus.

    If we’re at Kelly Shorts, McGuirk, the UC or in someone’s dorm room, it’s not right for one person to use that language to the other (I think we’re in agreement).   At the same time, I’m saying if Kelly Shorts, McGuirk, the UC or in someone’s dorm room, if over the speakers is some musician or comedian using those words, then that should be banned, too, if you want to start banning certain speech.
    Has nothing to do with Hollywood.  You want it both ways. 

    Vince, what’s the difference if those 4 words are said by 1 person to the other in the room or they both hear it coming out of the speakers!  It’s being spoken no matter which way you’re looking at it.

    What you’er saying is Bill Maher can be on TV calling women the c-word, but Rush Limbaugh can’t call a woman the s-word.  Either both are right or both are wrong.  You can’t cherry pick.

    You’re cherry picking.

    So, it’s OK to say those 4 words, the c-word, the s-word about women if it’s a song or comedian over someone’s speakers or if a musician/comedian comes to campus…………….but it’s not OK for 2 students, employees, alumni, guests to say it to each other on campus.

    Vince, in other words, you’re OK if they use profanity and uncivil language if it’s a musician or comedian coming out of dorm speakers, stadium speakers, eatery speakers on campus.  You’re obviously OK with that.  What’s the difference if I say those words to the individual or someone hears those words blaring out of someone’s radio, speakers, loudspeakers, etc. 

    One other point, are you going to have entertainers coming to campus, in their contract, have certain banned words, if they want to get paid?

    Reply
  5. Student says:
    March 19, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    Michmediaperson- go away.

    Reply
 
 

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