Editorial - Let's see what our leaders do

WE commend the management of the University of Technology (UTech) and its security provider for the swift disciplining of the guards implicated in last week's beating of a male student allegedly caught in a homosexual liaison on campus. The incident remains unsettling, more so because the violence occurred on the grounds of an institution of higher learning, apparently with the support of baying students. Universities are meant to open the minds of students to reason, understanding and compassion.

Bigotry and brute force have no place on a university campus, or anywhere in the society for that matter. A university campus is where calm and reason are supposed to prevail over ignorance and raw emotion. The attack by security guards on a student was a missed opportunity. Had at least one student rushed to his rescue is the stuff true leaders are made of. That's what separates educated persons from unlearned ones. That's what distinguishes a place of higher learning from a howling mob or the masses.

The actors in this violent episode reflect the society's penchant for violence and total intolerance for persons who wish, and have a legal right, to act diferently. In this particular instance, the cause of the violent attack might have been homophobia, but it is commonplace in Jamaica for mobs to inflict vigilante justice - even murder - in reaction to robbery, praedial larceny, rape and death, or injury resulting from traffic accidents.

It is not the first time that violent attacks against persons have taken place at UTech. Clearly, the institution is not doing as well in (re)socialising some of its students as it is doing in producing world-class athletic champions. Centres of higher learning in Jamaica, symbolised here by UTech, must take a leading role in uprooting violence and intolerancefrom Jamaica.

schizophrenic society

Our schizophrenic society - smile with you today, but violently attack you tomorrow - needs to be treated urgently.

Another remedial action required by UTech, consequent on last week's beating incident on its campus, is to lead a national discussion on diversity and tolerance for sexual orientation in educational institutions as well as in the wider society. Tolerance for homosexuality does not necessarily mean endorsement of it. This may be a surprising revelation to tertiary students, security guards and others: beating cannot change a person's sexual orientation! The issue is more complex than that.

This newspaper is not advocating the lowering of behavioural standards on university campuses. Diversity policies must dictate the type of sexual behaviour or contact that should or should not take place in the institution's precincts. The policy must clearly set out sanctions for breaches and how they are administered.

We join rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) in urging the administration of UTech to make it clear to its students and staff that the violent actions displayed last week will not be tolerated. We share JFJ's views that "violence is not the solution for differences within our society. The rights of all our people must be respected. A society ordered in the ways of peace, tolerance, and justice for all becomes a nation that would be healed of a culture of violence."

We expect that the Jamaica Constabulary Force will speedily investigate and, if appropriate, charge all persons - students and guards - criminally involved in the assault. We expect UTech to expel all the students involved in creating this violence. We expect the political leadership of both leading parties to condemn this and all attacks on persons of homosexual persuasion.

It is now time for our leaders, in politics or in other sectors, and especially church leaders who advocate compassion, to speak out and challenge the Jamaican homophobia culture.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.