OC Condones Hate

To the Editor:

Dear President Dye:

I was appalled to hear the recent Community Board decision to overturn the expulsion of two students responsible for the assault of a fellow student that occurred in the student’s dorm room in Barnard. I am writing to express my concern because the incident disturbs and troubles me greatly.
In my four years here, I have felt Oberlin has worked hard to uphold principles of equality, respect, and fairness. That two students would intentionally and maliciously harm another student because his views did not agree with their own goes against all that Oberlin stands for. That these two students are now allowed to remain on campus, attend classes, work for the College and actually graduate is shameful and an embarrassment to the whole community. I feel expulsion is the only suitable response for this atrocious crime. I am ashamed of my fellow classmates and feel it does the rest of the class of 2001 a disservice by having them graduate with us. What does it say about Oberlin College to condone such hateful acts toward another human being? I thought we were a better institution than this.

–Melissa Ray
College senior