Faculty react to Web log decision

After a University legal counsel decided to let a professor's controversial Web log remain on the IU server, staff, faculty and students are responding with letters to University administration and organizing meetings to discuss possible responses.\nKelley School of Business professor Eric Rasmusen's Web log, which contains his personal thoughts and views about homosexuality and other topics, has been back on the IU server since Friday when University legal officials decided it didn't violate IU's personal Web page policy.\nBut many who disagree with the University's decision sent e-mails to Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm in addition to starting initiatives to educate others and possibly appeal the decision.\n"Hate words don't deserve space on a University server paid for with tax dollars," said Mark Brostoff, associate director of undergraduate services in the business school. "You can't say you're a tolerant campus and allow this level of hatred to be attached to the school."\nAfter hearing about the decision, Brostoff, along with Joe Boes, a business school adviser who opposes the Web log, sent an e-mail to Brehm Monday with reasons why the log should not be on IU's server. \nBrostoff said he feels Rasmusen should post his thoughts on a server he pays for himself.\n"I have a hard time understanding how someone who possesses this level of ignorance on human sexuality can have this on the server," Brostoff said. "There are plenty of opportunities for (Rasmusen) to discuss his views, but linking and storing this information on the server is unacceptable."\nIn his e-mail to Brehm, Brostoff brings up his concerns about the effects this will have in the future.\n"I'm afraid gay and lesbian students will feel unsafe in his class, unsafe in the Kelley School of Business and unsafe in the freedom to pursue an open dialogue within our University," Brostoff said in the e-mail.\nIn addition to e-mails, other measures of action some are taking include meetings to brainstorm ways of educating the Bloomington and IU community about homosexuality. \nBarry Magee, director for diversity education with Residential Programs and Services, also sent an e-mail to Brehm and has helped organize a meeting with other concerned individuals.\nAlong with Doug Bauder, coordinator of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support services, Magee said he hopes to educate the community about positive views on homosexuality.\n"We don't necessarily want to appeal the University's decision, but we want to educate others, including professor Rasmusen," Magee said. "People should be able to share opinions, but any prudent person would balance their free speech with trying to understand the impact it has on the community, and that's where (Rasmusen) has made an error."\nMagee said several students have approached him since Friday with concerns about the Web log and want to get involved as soon as possible.\n"There are a lot of things moving in a whirlwind because people don't know where to get involved and how to get started," Magee said.\nAfter reading Rasmusen's Web log Monday, sophomore Elisabeth Crum said she was surprised the University allowed the log on the server.\nCrum plans to partake in any meetings or initiatives and said if the Web log remains on the IU server, Rasmusen should put a disclaimer with it, making it clear that his views aren't representing the school.\n"This professor has so much clout and students look up to him as a faculty member," Crum said. "If any of his opinions could be offensive to the student body, he needs to put something on the log that states his views are not the opinions of IU as a whole, because it will reflect poorly on our school."\n-- Contact senior writer Maura Halpern at mhalpern@indiana.edu.