Dear Wichitan Editor:

I read with interest the Wichitan’s report on the background and achievements of Dr. Ben Carson, this year’s Commencement speaker at MSU.  I read with consternation the comments on homosexuality attributed to Dr. Carson in the same article.  I realize that Dr. Carson has apologized for his choice of words, but those words, stated publicly, do reflect a mindset for which he bears responsibility.  Dr. Carson’s alignment of homosexuality with pedophilia and bestiality implies a relationship that is intellectually spurious and emotionally antagonistic.

The Wichitan also quotes President Rogers as stating that our students “need to learn” that Dr. Carson has the right to voice such opinions.  I believe that our students, in fact, have learned as much.  However, I believe that our gay and lesbian students, faculty members, and staff members, as well as those friends and colleagues who support them, may not understand why a person holding such views has been invited to claim the podium at MSU’s graduation ceremony—an event that supposedly embraces all members of a diverse campus community at a university which touts “social justice” as one of its core values.

Dr. Ron Fischli
Dean, Lamar D. Fain
College of Fine Arts