CARNAL NATION

Hope College, a small liberal arts college in western Michigan, has nixed an invitation to Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of the film Milk, to participate in a roundtable discussion on sexuality. Dean of Students Richard Frost said that speakers with strong opinions do not further academic discussions, especially with regard to lesbian, gay, and transgender issues. Attempting to emphasize education over advocacy, Frost said, “We had tried to do that in the late ’90s, with little success. Students and faculty on either side of the campus felt extremely hurt and marginalized." It seems that college officials would prefer no dialogue at all rather than any kind of serious debate.

Black, who is in Michigan directing the film What's Wrong with Virgina, was unaware that the invitation had caused any controversy. “When I do live speaking tours, I’m all about reconciliation between the gay community and the religious community,” he said. Hope College has traditionally been associated with the Reformed Church of America, a Protestant denomination that does not condone homosexuality. Some students expressed dismay at not being able to invite a prominent speaker to their campus, regardless of his position on the issue of homosexuality. “The very idea that the guy is an intelligent individual and he’s willing to talk about it — that shows we are ready for it,” said freshman Daisy Hernandez. “We’re lucky to have someone with that much talent here.”

Black will speak to a Hope College screenwriting class, which is considered by the college as a separate event from the sexuality roundtable discussion. “Black won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay last year. He has a decade or more of experience in writing for television and film. It’s unusual to have someone with that experience living in our community, and we’re grateful that he’s willing to come and talk with our students,” said Hope College English Department Chairman David Klooster.