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February 10, 2006 > Opinion > Baker Beer-Bike theme suggestions inconsiderate

Baker Beer-Bike theme suggestions inconsiderate

The diversity of the colleges is one of the most compelling reasons to have them. For almost 60 years, Rice has built a residential system that aims to be inclusive and supportive of all students. Without it, we might as well be living in faceless dorms or exclusive fraternities.

But the kind of diversity for which the college system strives does not come automatically, as evidenced by problems with minority flight and the alienation of other non-majority groups — non-drinkers come to mind — from on-campus life. A diverse environment requires respect for fellow college members and a sensitivity to what may be offensive. And it requires student leaders who uphold these ideals. On Wednesday night, Baker College failed to meet these standards. (See story, page 1.)

After a contentious debate over the Beer-Bike theme — What Would Jesus Brew? — that won the college’s vote and that offended some Baker students, the masters rejected the theme and asked the college to reopen the selection process. Students responded with 100 themes, which were compiled and sent by e-mail to the college listserv Wednesday night. Most of the new themes lashed out at the students who objected to the original theme. Among the most offensive were: Transfer to Baylor Bike, Campus Crusade for Cognac and Religious Organizations Should Be Censored Bike.

These themes and many others conveyed a profound lack of respect for a minority opinion. They mocked the objections to the original theme and essentially said: Agree with us, or you are not welcome here.

Every undergraduate is invested in the college system, because all undergraduates give their colleges money, time and trust. That means every student has the right to object to a Beer-Bike theme, and all college leaders should err on the side of caution when using the college’s mass e-mail resources to send official messages.

Of course, such intolerance could have come from any college. So we hope every college — and particularly every college’s leadership — will take steps to ensure such material does not get sent to other college listservs.

The executive committee of every college should have — and use — the power to veto offensive themes for any college-wide event before they are disclosed to the college at large.

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