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To the Editor: On Thursday, March 10, I attended the "Patriarchy Slam," sponsored by the outspoken Feminist Action League. My rights as a student were not respected.
The event was advertised around campus through flyers that simply stated the time and place and said to bring poetry and stories to share. At no point did it say: No Men Allowed.
Upon arriving at the event, I was told by Ms. Meagan Smith, the coordinator, that as a man I would be intimidating. As such, during the open microphone part of the evening, I would have to leave. I assured them that I had no intent to be disruptive in any way, but that would not suffice. Being a man was reason enough to be excluded.
Throughout the first part of the evening, the girls sang songs about "man-hating" and glamorized it. They also read poetry about castration and cutting off men's genitalia. The girls wore scissors around their necks. It was angry, violent, hateful speech.
After the Orwellian-style hate mongering part of the evening had ended, they violated my rights as a student.
One of them pointed to me and then pointed to the door. I was the only person singled out, and it was based upon my gender. As I was leaving, they confiscated my program, which they had handed out. Evidently, they do not want the public knowing what was said that night.
What happened that night should not be tolerated on this campus. The event itself, by its own design and conduct, was not in keeping with the University values of tolerance and diversity. Secondly, what happened to me was discrimination. I hope people take this article seriously and consider whether or not the Feminist Action League should be allowed to have more events on this campus.
David Huffman Senior '05
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