The Pride Center at Oregon State University is calling for a veterans club to be banned from the campus’ student lounge, stating concerns with veteran students’ patriotism. Somehow, they think the presence of vets will hurt the “well-being” of other students.
In a lengthy, now-deleted Facebook post, the Pride Center posted an open letter to the OSU community.
The group lamented: “The communities that our organizations serve are vulnerable to the ideological and practical consequences that this decision would bring about.”
The LGBTQ+ Multicultural Support Network oppose moving the Veteran Student Association into the Student Experience Center Involvement Lounge on campus in part because President Trump has banned transgender individuals from serving in the military. It is unclear how President Trump’s policy would impact the interaction between veteran students and transgender students.
“We also wish to express our concern for the particular type of American patriotism that would be promoted by centralizing the Veteran Students Association in the SEC… US military interventions abroad have been responsible for killing our LGBTQ+ siblings,” the post continued.
The Involvement Lounge, which is at the center of the dispute, “serves as a hub within the Student Experience Center for students to connect with resources, campus opportunities and student organizations,” according to its webpage.
The Pride Center isn’t a student group, it’s an entity of the Department of Diversity and Cultural Engagement. So in a way, this message comes from the university bureaucracy. After much backlash, the Pride Center posted a new message with a different tone, but no apology.
“We recognize the statement has been a source of pain for many individuals,” the Pride Center stated. “We welcome and support our veterans. And we share with you that the Pride Center assistant director is working with the Military and Veteran Resources advisor to create healing spaces for those who are hurting.”
Alexander James is a contributor to Red Alert Politics and a freelance journalist.
