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Notre Dame uproar over anti-gay cartoon in student newspaper

By
DARA KELLY
,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Friday, January 15, 2010, 12:12 PM
Updated Monday, January 18, 2010, 1:58 PM
Read more: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation


The anti-gay cartoon that appeared in The Observer student newspaper

The University of Notre Dame is being rocked by a controversy over an anti-gay cartoon printed in the student-run newspaper, The Observer.

The cartoon depicts a conversation between two figures that reads: 

“What’s the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?"

“No idea.” 

“A baseball bat.” 

Earlier, the cartoonist, who has not yet been named, posted the original version of the cartoon on his blog. In this version, it shows  the punch line as  “AIDS” instead of  “a baseball bat.” The paper, he claimed, preferred “not to make light of fatal diseases.” 

In a statement to the press today, The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) claimed “The Observer made a dangerously misguided decision that promoting violence was somehow superior to making fun of HIV/AIDS. Both versions of the cartoon were abhorrent.” 

GLAAD contacted The Observer’s editor, Jenn Metz, who relayed a tearful apology by phone. She explained that she was not present when the decision to run the cartoon was made, and that she was incredibly upset that others on staff had made that decision. 

An apology printed in the paper this morning included the following: 

The editors of The Observer would like to publicly apologize for the publication of “The Mobile Party” in the Jan. 13 edition. The burden of responsibility ultimately lies on us for allowing it to go to print. 
There is no excuse that can be given and nothing that can be said to reverse the damage that has already been done by this egregious error in judgment. 
 

Allowing this cruel and hateful comic a place on our pages disgraced those values and severely hurt members of our Notre Dame family — our classmates, our friends. For this, we sincerely apologize. Unfortunately, the language of hate is an everyday reality in our society.” 

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Notre Dame uproar over anti-gay cartoon in student newspaper | Irish News | IrishCentral


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Most recent comments - See all comments

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Posted by Haole3000 on Jan 23, 2010, 05:55 PM EST
Taxes are only collected through violence, no violence no taxes. Try collecting taxes without the threat of jail. Ban any speech about raising taxes, speech about increasing the level of violence in society should not be tolerated.
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Posted by RadCelt on Jan 22, 2010, 02:12 PM EST
What a shameful disgusting display. Notre Dame is right to apologize and be ashamed. Let's just hope that retraction comes soon enough to offset a sick/frightened person from committing a horrible crime. @Sungold - Yes - this kind of trash offers someone predisposed to violence an atmosphere of acceptability to go ahead and physically attack someone they perceive as gay or lesbian - because it is dehumanizing and advocates violence - what about that don't you get?
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Posted by olovely on Jan 22, 2010, 09:06 AM EST
I think that dehumanizing gay people in this way is a constant tactic of the right that leads to people going out and gay bashing, yes. Cartoons that endorse attacking or murdering minorities are no longer merely cartoons. Your comments about Ann Coulter etc are bizarre and distasteful, suggesting ideological bias excuses their intent. It does not.
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Posted by Sungold on Jan 22, 2010, 02:12 AM EST
olovely, do you seriously think that people who read this cartoon are going to run out & start beating gay people with baseball bats? I don't think I know anyone who has ever copy-catted a cartoon, except for maybe small children. I said that the cartoon was unfunny & distasteful, and that the students responsible should be fired from the paper. If the cartoon made the same remarks about Conservatives like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh, would you be as upset? Somehow I doubt it. And as a reminder...not everyone who attends Notre Dame is Catholic, although I would hope that the college paper would reflect Catholic values. My mind is just fine, thank you. No swearing needed.
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Posted by Meggie01 on Jan 21, 2010, 07:03 PM EST
This cartoon doesn't pass the smell test. I was all set to insist that freedom of speech should be respected, but we have never had the freedom to incite illegal acts of violence. There's nothing funny about this, so I cannot find anything to defend.
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Posted by sully1167 on Jan 21, 2010, 12:20 PM EST
Idschap,you better go back and read your bible.I don't think Jesus would approve of gays being beaten with a baseball bat.You are probably a repressed homosexual yourself just like 95% of the priests and bishops in the RC Church. For the record I am also Catholic.


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