Letter: Excluding Cobb would be the epitome of intolerance

The article last week suggesting that Victoria Cobb should be denied her leadership award immediately struck me as wrong on numerous levels. Most obviously, the authors express dripping intolerance for someone they view as intolerant. In case you missed the irony, they, who champion tolerance, refuse to tolerate someone. It's easy to tolerate different views that are tame, or don't affect you, but if you truly value tolerance, the test occurs when a view comes along which really hits you hard.

Furthermore, Victoria Cobb has been a strong leader in a field that gets very little praise and a lot of criticism, and Jepson bestowing such an award on her shows that they passed the tolerance test. I'm from Virginia and know of the great work Victoria has done here, most of it not related to homosexuality in the slightest.

The Family Foundation advocates for pro-family positions in the Virginia capitol, informs families what bills are coming up, and comes and speaks to high school students on family issues, among other things. Even a cursory glance of their Web site reveals that most of their positions deal with trying to lower divorce, pornography, and abortion rates, support parental rights, bring the Constitution to the forefront of policymakers' minds and defend freedom of religion. Saying marriage should only be between a man and a woman is a tiny part of what they advocate. Nowhere has she advocated banning gay groups from campuses, and, in fact, The Collegian last semester quoted her saying, "We were glad to have them" (Aug 27, 2009).

To slight her in the face of her accomplishments and slander her because of disagreement over a fraction of her politics seems the epitome of intolerance. Please understand that not all Jepson students hold the views of the authors, and that if the classroom discussions they advocate should happen, I will be ready and waiting.

Sincerely,

Caleb Routhier

Junior Leadership Studies Minor