Just days ago, controversy ensued after Angela McCaskill, diversity officer at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., signed a petition that would put a Maryland same-sex marriage law that allows gay marriage to popular vote.
McCaskill, who is both African American and deaf, was originally appointed to the position of diversity officer last year. She was thought to be the perfect candidate, being the very first deaf African American woman to earn a doctorate from Gallaudet University.
However, upon signing this petition, McCaskill was put on temporary paid suspension in order to give the college time to evaluate whether or not her actions were appropriate. It is clear, based on the United States Constitution, they were.
Even so, her suspension stands, and media coverage has not only sensationalized her story, they have also sought to bend her actions to suit their own means, using video footage of McCaskill in anti-gay marriage commercials.
The truly inflammatory aspect of McCaskill’s suspension is that she did not express her opinion on the topic. Rather, she petitioned for a popular vote on the subject where eligible voters could all be involved in the decision.
Though the petition is largely viewed as a venue through which those opposed to gay marriage will overturn Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s law allowing same-sex marriage law, signing it really advocates giving everyone a chance for their voice to be heard. If same-sex marriage goes to a popular vote, people for and against it will be able to communicate their views and whichever side has the most supporters will see their wishes granted in Maryland state law.
Though it is true sending the issue to a popular vote is one of the primary ways O’Malley’s same-sex marriage law can be overturned, McCaskill has been careful not to favor either side of the debate. She told reporters: “No one has the right to decide what my signature meant,” and without additional clarification no one has the means to know what it meant, either.
Even if the petition did support one side or the other, McCaskill’s administrative position as diversity officer should not impede her First Amendment rights, and giving her signature should not have resulted in a suspension. While behavior supporting acceptance might be expected of someone who ensures a safe learning environment for all people—and is a minority, herself—it is not a requirement of any job position to think in any specific way.
Both gay-marriage supporters and protesters have cried out against McCaskill’s wrongful punishment, but many are also uncomfortable with her making any kind of statement about the issue.
Because her job is on a college campus, McCaskill deals with both homophobic and homosexual students every day. Many students view the campus as a safe haven, a place where they need not fear the prejudices that frequent higher—volume colleges nation wide. Though McCaskill did not officially give an opinion, many have construed her signing in different ways, and many have been lead to believe she supports one particular side over the other. This has bred discomfort and anxiety at the college and may be one of the sources of her suspension.
However, McCaskill is not a teacher, and did not go to students requesting their support for any cause. On her own time, and without announcement, she signed a petition that suited her interests, and this is something we cannot fault her for doing.
Though it is inappropriate for college professors and administrators to express opinions during class time, they shouldn’t feel as though their professional position is a barrier to completing their civic duties outside of the classroom—voting, participating in protests and making their voices heard. It is my hope that no UW-Madison teachers or administrators silence themselves for fear of suspension like McCaskill or the embarrassing fiasco that followed.
To be sure, no profession should strip a citizen of their rights, especially not a job that finds its home among such a great number of people. McCaskill, in fact, set an example for the students of the college: when you believe in something, you ought to go out and try to make that change happen.
Kate is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and English. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
