Open your mind

As a columnist, there is no better compliment than hearing someone say, "I disagreed with your column, but you argued your position very well." Fortunately, I heard that a lot in January. But last week, I heard something quite different. Apparently, some people think I "enjoy being close-minded." \nOh, really? Let's step back and evaluate this claim, and finally take on the question, What exactly is an "open mind" at IU?\nI'll start with an anecdote. Back in 2002, while every other freshman was applying for a residential neighborhood suited to their lifestyle, I chose to be placed in Collins Living-Learning Center. Now, why on Earth would a conservative George W. Bush-supporter like me want to live in such a place? To learn. I wanted to learn about people who weren't like me. I wanted to find out about how they understand the world, their motivations and their reasoning. \nInstead, I encountered intolerance. I was teased for being a Christian, berated for being a patriot and not taken seriously because I vote Republican. I learned that the students who live in Collins are the least open-minded on campus. If only they realized their precious word "diversity" includes people like me.\nThe next telling incident involved business professor Eric Rasmusen when, in late 2003, his weblog featuring anti-gay remarks was found on the IU server. Consequently, much of the IU community wanted Rasmusen's comments stripped from the server, fearing they would somehow be associated with University policy. The weeks following this incident were grossly indicative of IU's real stance on open-mindedness. Although Rasmusens's opinions weren't exactly politically correct or well-stated, they should at least have been able to be expressed. But most people, including some top officials, wanted them to be suppressed. They cried out for the need to "educate" such an "ignorant" point of view. I'll put it simply: To people like me, it's OK to disagree. To people like them, it's not. Which side do you think sounds more tolerant?\nOne of the last straws for me occurred last semester when Pat Connor, executive director of Residential Programs and Services, commented on a Christian Student Fellowship profile story. He said students living in the CSF house are missing out on an opportunity to be exposed to students of different cultures and religions because they choose to live together.\nOh, those close-minded Christians. Don't bother to mention the fact, Pat, that everyone else at IU lives with people like themselves. You know, like in Jewish sororities and fraternities, black sororities and fraternities, Collins and Smallwood? \nAm I close-minded because I don't like Hollywood telling me how I should think? Am I close-minded because I don't believe in affirmative action, abortion or gay marriage? Am I close-minded because I don't think the criticism of IU President Adam Herbert's presidency has anything to do with race? \nIU preaches diversity and tolerance, but in my four years here, it's shown me neither. If you disagree with my opinion, that's OK. But if you think I'm close-minded or intolerant, you're wrong. Look in the mirror to find such things.