Advertisement

400 Protest Discrimination Policy at Tufts

More than 400 people attended a rally at Tufts University yesterday arguing that the school's non-discrimination policy does not adequately protect students' rights.

The rally was spurred by Tufts' student-run discipline committee's recent interpretation of the school's non-discrimination policy.

In its ruling on a case of alleged discrimination against a bisexual student, the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) found that Tufts' current policy "does not protect against discrimination based on specific beliefs."

Advertisement

In speeches that took place on the roof of the Tische Library, two professors and two students told protesters that the university's policy against discrimination was inadequate and unclear.

"We are here because we are concerned, we care and we want to see a change," said Katherine L. Cheung, a student organizer of the rally.

The protest was rooted in a dispute last year between Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) and Julie Catalano, a group member who is bisexual.

Catalano alleged that she was not allowed to become a senior leader of the group because of her sexual orientation, a claim that TCF refuted. The group said the decision to keep her from a leadership position was based on her beliefs about homosexuality, not her sexual orientation.

Event organizers said the specific details of Catalano's claim were not central to yesterday's rally. Rather, they said their focus was on the ambiguity of Tufts' current policy.

Recommended Articles

Advertisement