On March 11, four gay students who had published an opinion piece in that morning's Citizen, the newspaper of the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), received a memo that said, "Fuck your first amendment. Stop crying faggot!"

Naheed K. Nenshi, opinion editor of The Citizen, also received a memo which included racist attacks. All the memos were signed "Citizens for a Fag Free KSG."

The following month, during the Queer Politics Conference at the K-School--which headlined leaders from national gay-rights organizations, openly gay state-level officials, legal advocates and lobbyists--residents of Dunster House awoke on April 6 to find the main house entrance, G-entry, scrawled with anti-gay epithets.

The graffiti covered two walls with the words "Faggot" and "Mother-fucker," across from a poster for Queer Harvard Month, a series of events sponsored by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered Students Association (BGLTSA). The previous night, a dinner for the Queer Politics Conference had been held in Dunster House.

Dunster residents Moon Duchin '97 and Roland Tan '97 said they felt the graffiti demonstrated that Dunster has become less tolerant in the past year. According to Duchin, Dunster is home to significantly more BGLTSA members than any House, and she worries that randomization has changed Dunster's previously accepting atmosphere.

Administration Reaction

In response to these attacks, University officials expressed concern and repeated their commitment to creating a diverse and welcoming community.

Dean of the KSG Joseph S. Nye Jr. responded to the hate mail with a memo to the KSG community, describing the letters as "puerile and outrageous" and saying he will provide greater security at events where gay, lesbian or bisexual students may be targeted for hate crimes.

College officials also condemned the attacks.

"I would...caution members of the College to honor everyone's right to be a member of this college no matter their political persuasion and to call for a civil debate of these issues," said Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

However, students in both the KSG and the College said they feel that the response from the Administration has been disappointing.

"[Nye's] response to the memos was woefully inadequate," said KSG student Myrna Perez. "He was able to get off relatively easy. He didn't have to commit to any difficult or hard-to-enact changes."

Those attacked earlier in the year said they also felt frustrated with the administration.

Padilla, the Peninsula member targeted in the October attack, said he felt his complaints were not addressed by the Administration.

"They said they'd get on it, but nothing ever happened," Padilla said.