The Dominican Star is open to sharing the community’s opinions and views on important issues.
A Dominican student, Chloe Young, sent a letter to the University Ministry and later shared it with us. The letter was sent in regards to the response of the incident prior to the Mass of Joy and Hope on Sunday, March 19th.
Below is a copy of the letter:
Hello, I am writing with some concerns about the message regarding the Mass of Joy and Hope. It is referenced in the email that students in the LGBTQIA+ community are welcome to pray and practice our faith at Dominican, but there is no reference to our being. This email does not reference our well-being or safety at Dominican, only the physical spaces created for us. It does not feel as though Dominican fully backs the LGBTQIA+ community and does not stand entirely with us. I am also wondering why there was not more advertising for this event, or a livestream; many students I have spoken to did not realize this mass was happening. It is hard not to think that this event was not supposed to be made public to the university at wide or to the community outside of the university. This feels eerily similar to the last LGBTQIA+ mass, when the plug for livestreaming was pulled at the last second and there was not a statement released in support of our community. Many people within the LGBTQIA+ community have been traumatized via their religious connections, and the statement that we are welcome to pray with University Ministry, without mentioning our being, reeks of ignorance.
This message feels artificial and surface level, and I believe we need to do better. I understand that this act was done by a student, but there have been staff in University Ministry that have themselves taken down signs of protest in the Chapel before -so why are you only speaking up now?
It seems as though Dominican leadership is trying to protect themselves, not us. I have spoken up before and nothing came from it. Others have spoken up before and nothing was done for them. It feels as if leadership is building up protection from the outside community, but not protecting the students within.
I love this institution and I love many of the people within it, so it is disappointing and saddening to see this kind of response. I appreciate everything you all do for our institution and the work you put in for students; but I want other voices to be heard. I have a responsibility to speak up and to protect my community.
Sincerely,
Chloe Young
