AALARM Posters Create Stir

A Thayer first-year may face disciplinary charges for removing a poster put up in the Harvard Union by the Association Against Learning in the Absence of Religion and Morality (AALARM).

Last Tuesday, Joshua L. Oppenheimer '96, tore down the poster in front of Robert K. Wasinger '94, a member of the presidential council of AALARM.

Oppenheimer said he arrived at the Union to attend a Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days (BGLAD) dinner when he saw Wasinger putting up the poster.

According to Oppenheimer, he went up to Wasinger and asked him what the poster campaign was about. He said Wasinger told him that AALARM was a group that believed homosexuality was a crime.

"I didn't know how to respond in a spoken way," said Oppenheimer, who is gay. "In order to be at all consistent with everything I had been taught of dignity, I felt I needed to respond."

In response, Oppenheimer tore down the AALARM poster.

Oppenheimer said he did not tear down the poster to prevent Wasinger from expressing his views. He said he saw that there were several other AALARM posters on the same bulletin board and he knew Wasinger, who carried a stack of posters, would put up a new poster in its place.

"Rather than a gesture to silence him it was the only action I could take that was at all consistent with being dignified," he said. "I felt that I had participated in a debate in the most non-violent, non-affrontive way I could."

Wasinger said that at the time, he criticized Oppenheimer's action, but was ignored. Oppenheimer attended the dinner and, upon leaving, saw Wasinger with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

According to Epps, it was chance that he entered the Union at that time.

"I just happened to be going in the front door," Epps said.

Wasinger said he informed Epps about the incident. When questioned by Epps, Oppenheimer confessed to removing the poster, and Epps asked him to apologize.

"It was very humiliating. It was difficult to apologize to someone who would persecute me," Oppenheimer said.

The charges are part of a larger conflict between AALARM and gay rights groups that has been played out on the College poster boards.

Earlier this week, in response to posters advertising BGLAD events, AALARM posted several posters criticizing homosexual lifestyles.

On Tuesday evening, according to Oppenheimer, he and several other students interested in gay rights, countered with posters likening AALARM's condemnation of homosexuality of Nazi anti-Semitism.

These students have formed an unofficial group to respond to AALARM's "bigotry," Oppenheimer said.

"Our idea is that when they launch a bigoted campaign, we'll respond," Oppenheimer said.

Both groups say other students have ripped down their posters. And both groups deny that their members support removing the others' posters.

Oppenheimer said AALARM posters have been posted over posters put up by his groups. At the same time, "Almost all of our [AALARM's] posters have been torn down," Wasinger said.

However, Wasinger denied that AALARM members removed BGLSA or other gay rights signs. "Unlike some members of the BGLSA, AALARM whole-heartedly embraces the first amendment and we would never rip down their posters or any other posters."

And Oppenheimer said neither he nor any of his group removed any other AALARM posters. Oppenheimer said that at the BGLAD dinner, members specifically talked about not removing any other posters.

"The gay community, although directly hurt, had no intention of aborting this discourse," Oppenheimer said.

John A. Frazier 'ax, co-chair of the BGLSA, also said his group does not advocate Oppenheimer's actions.

Epps said yesterday no formal Ad Board charges have been brought against Oppenheimer, but he expected to receive a formal complaint from AALARM.

"I don't know what steps we would take after that," he said.

Wasinger said he submitted a complaint to Epps' office on Thursday, describing the events and asking the College to pursue disciplinary action.

According to Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57, action against Oppenheimer would be contingent on whether the removal of posters was an isolated incident or more widespread.

"If you have somebody, out of frustration, casually taking down a poster, that might not warrant strong disciplinary action," he said.

Jewett said the student might face probation, however, if it were found that he was systematically removing posters around the campus

On Tuesday evening, according to Oppenheimer, he and several other students interested in gay rights, countered with posters likening AALARM's condemnation of homosexuality of Nazi anti-Semitism.

These students have formed an unofficial group to respond to AALARM's "bigotry," Oppenheimer said.

"Our idea is that when they launch a bigoted campaign, we'll respond," Oppenheimer said.

Both groups say other students have ripped down their posters. And both groups deny that their members support removing the others' posters.

Oppenheimer said AALARM posters have been posted over posters put up by his groups. At the same time, "Almost all of our [AALARM's] posters have been torn down," Wasinger said.

However, Wasinger denied that AALARM members removed BGLSA or other gay rights signs. "Unlike some members of the BGLSA, AALARM whole-heartedly embraces the first amendment and we would never rip down their posters or any other posters."

And Oppenheimer said neither he nor any of his group removed any other AALARM posters. Oppenheimer said that at the BGLAD dinner, members specifically talked about not removing any other posters.

"The gay community, although directly hurt, had no intention of aborting this discourse," Oppenheimer said.

John A. Frazier 'ax, co-chair of the BGLSA, also said his group does not advocate Oppenheimer's actions.

Epps said yesterday no formal Ad Board charges have been brought against Oppenheimer, but he expected to receive a formal complaint from AALARM.

"I don't know what steps we would take after that," he said.

Wasinger said he submitted a complaint to Epps' office on Thursday, describing the events and asking the College to pursue disciplinary action.

According to Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57, action against Oppenheimer would be contingent on whether the removal of posters was an isolated incident or more widespread.

"If you have somebody, out of frustration, casually taking down a poster, that might not warrant strong disciplinary action," he said.

Jewett said the student might face probation, however, if it were found that he was systematically removing posters around the campus