Homophobia, Bigotry a Campus-Wide Concern

To the editors

Over the past few weeks Mather House has experienced several acts of homophobia (News, Oct. 1). As a resident of Mather House, I am ashamed and embarrassed. As a member of the Harvard community I am outraged. These acts serve as a cold reminder of the narrow-mindedness and intolerance that exists even this school, a supposed model for other colleges to emulate.

Over the past few years, we have seen a student body critical of the administration for a variety of issues, ranging from a living wage for employees to faculty diversity. As students we expect the administration to perform at a higher standard; it is time for the students to do their part too.

How can we criticize the administration when we try to make a homosexual student or proctor feel unwelcome in our own home? It is hypocritical, it is sad, and it is shameful. As a person, I will not associate myself with such acts of bigotry, but as a Harvard student and Matherite I cannot help but be associated with these homophobic acts.

It is too easy for us to just blow off what has happened and label the perpetrators as bigots and to not think about it again. How many times have we seen the same thing happen to other societal groups? We find someone guilty, absolve ourselves of any responsibility and with some act of punishment the matter is forgotten. That may be the way it is outside of Harvard's walls, but that should not and can not be the way it is here. A letter from the masters or discipline by the Ad Board does not erase the problem of homophobia, or any other kind of bigotry. Instead, the entire Harvard community must be firm and vocal in its position that intolerance is not tolerated.

Neil R. Brown '01

Oct. 4, 1999

The writer is a resident of Mather House.

Hicks Ignores Relationship of Health and Homelessness

To the editors:

I would like to comment on the unsophisticated level of scholarship displayed by George W. Hicks in his recent piece, "Change We Could Use" (Column, Oct. 1).

Hicks writes, "And speaking of not making sense: an obese beggar? Am I missing something here? It is a combination as foreign as a keg-standing priest or a thought-provoking Core section." He appears terribly eager to display his ignorance regarding the prevalence of obesity among the poor.

The 1991 and 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) documented an increased prevalence of risk factors for chronic disease--including obesity--among non-whites and among those with lower levels of education. Level of education is an imperfect proxy for socioeconomic status, but it is often the only marker available in large-scale surveillance studies.

However, further smaller-scale studies--published in journals such as Pediatrics and Public Health--have documented a relationship between obesity and poverty among specific and varied segments of the homeless population. These studies have found a prevalence of imbalanced, fast food-dependent diets among homeless children and higher fat intake and prevalence of obesity--along with significant nutritional deficiency in iron, magnesium, zinc, folic acid, and calcium--among a sample of single homeless mothers. In general, homeless study participants had high-fat diets and high serum cholesterol levels, making them more likely to be obese.

The existence of a relationship between poverty and obesity does not imply causality, but surely one could speculate on the nature of the determinants. I would like to make the case that with a little bit of helpful prodding, Hicks might be inclined to venture beyond obtuseness and think a little more deeply about this "perched," "mooching," and "portly" woman's life.

Where do homeless people eat? Although the foods at municipal and charity-run shelters may be of decent quality, foods obtained from fast-food restaurants, delicatessens and garbage bins are not as healthy. What sorts of lives do homeless people live? Wealth and stability--which the homeless lack--invite knowledge of and time for pursuing a healthier lifestyle. This means access to healthy food, appropriate health care and safe locations to exercise or relax. Hicks focuses his dull and uninformed contempt on a woman who can be assumed to lack these resources.

Alexander C. Tsai '98

Oct. 4, 1999