2008 Woodie Awards
Employee's alleged action creates conflict
Stephanie Wrobel
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Campus
An alleged incident at Erickson Dining Hall has an organization at Miami University questioning the climate of acceptance on campus.
Members of the Spectrum organization reported Monday, April 9 a female employee in Erickson Dining Hall allegedly ripped table tents promoting Spectrum's Awareness Week.
The week hosted an array of activities including film screenings, speakers, and a drag show in an effort to raise awareness of sexual diversity at Miami.
Leslie Morrow; the coordinator of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Services and adviser to Spectrum; said though goal of the table tents was to attract attention, the end result was reflective of a campus-wide attitude toward minority lifestyles.
"We knew these table tents would raise eyebrows and that's what we wanted - not in a shocking way, but in a way to raise awareness," she said. "Actions such as these confirm the hetero-normative atmosphere of Miami's campus and proves we have a lot of work to do in promoting diversity."
A junior employee of Erickson Dining Hall, who was present the night of the incident, said the table tents were being placed on the table by a full-time employee.
"(The full-time employee) said she was extremely uncomfortable about (the table tents) and ripped up one, maybe more," said the junior. "She felt that it was a form of harassment in the workplace and told the managers about it."
The junior added that the table tents were removed for the evening until the management spoke with members of Program Board and the Office of Equity and Conflict Resolution. They were returned to the tables the next day.
Morrow said that the outburst had no effect on the success of Awareness Week and that all events were at or above capacity.
"It's a shame that not all students were informed of the events this week because of the disappearance of many of our table tents," Morrow said.
Though Housing, Dining and Guest Services were not aware of such an incident, Bill Moloney, senior director of dining and auxiliary enterprises, said it is highly unlikely to have occurred.
Members of the Spectrum organization reported Monday, April 9 a female employee in Erickson Dining Hall allegedly ripped table tents promoting Spectrum's Awareness Week.
The week hosted an array of activities including film screenings, speakers, and a drag show in an effort to raise awareness of sexual diversity at Miami.
Leslie Morrow; the coordinator of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Services and adviser to Spectrum; said though goal of the table tents was to attract attention, the end result was reflective of a campus-wide attitude toward minority lifestyles.
"We knew these table tents would raise eyebrows and that's what we wanted - not in a shocking way, but in a way to raise awareness," she said. "Actions such as these confirm the hetero-normative atmosphere of Miami's campus and proves we have a lot of work to do in promoting diversity."
A junior employee of Erickson Dining Hall, who was present the night of the incident, said the table tents were being placed on the table by a full-time employee.
"(The full-time employee) said she was extremely uncomfortable about (the table tents) and ripped up one, maybe more," said the junior. "She felt that it was a form of harassment in the workplace and told the managers about it."
The junior added that the table tents were removed for the evening until the management spoke with members of Program Board and the Office of Equity and Conflict Resolution. They were returned to the tables the next day.
Morrow said that the outburst had no effect on the success of Awareness Week and that all events were at or above capacity.
"It's a shame that not all students were informed of the events this week because of the disappearance of many of our table tents," Morrow said.
Though Housing, Dining and Guest Services were not aware of such an incident, Bill Moloney, senior director of dining and auxiliary enterprises, said it is highly unlikely to have occurred.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
vehrje
Jonathan Vehr
posted 4/18/07 @ 10:38 AM EST
My name is Jon Vehr. I am an Erickson Dining Hall Student Manager and a long time reader of the Miami Student. The Student's coverage of this incident shows more close-mindedness and ignorance than the incident itself, along with a general inability to get the facts straight. (Continued…)
Leslie Morrow
posted 4/19/07 @ 3:42 PM EST
Mr. Vehr-
I appreciate your comments. Nevertheless, before you assume everything in the article is representative of me, do some fact checking on your own. (Continued…)
vehrje
Jon Vehr
posted 4/19/07 @ 7:30 PM EST
Ms. Morrow,
I apologize for using the word "absurd." I wrote this article shortly after reading the story and I was kind of fired up. Looking back, it was much too harsh of a word to use. (Continued…)
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