With Regards to the Dismissal of Ms. Charlene Gent...

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Author: Joan Stoltman

Started: October 17, 2006, 9:12:43 pm

Target: Marian students, alumni, parents, and faculty/ staff. Brother Rice students, alumni, parents, and faculty/ staff

Category: Civil & Human Rights

Supporters:

133

Goal:

Goal Progress:

Status

Goal Met!

To the Administration of Marian High School,

In firing Ms. Charlene Genther, you have admonished a woman dedicated to Marian. Ms. Genther was a godsend to the students of Marian (and Brother Rice), an uplifting beacon of support and protection. An entire generation of alumni were affected by Ms. Genther's understanding, compassion and motherly instincts. You have done a great disservice to Marian alumni, parents, and students in firing her. In short, you have done irreparable damage to our community. Even future Marian students will suffer by this ostracizing act because now their school has become a birthplace for hate, hostility and intolerance. You, the administration of Marian High School, the decision-makers, have attacked one of our own, and as concerned Marian alumni we will not stand by quietly and watch.

As an attack on sexual orientation, you have acted as condemner not only to Ms. Genther, but to any of our sisters and brothers, our mothers and fathers, our friends and classmates and neighbors who live any non-traditional lifestyle. And as if doing harm to your own community weren’t enough, this poor choice was an act of discrimination, a violation of state and national laws. This is unacceptable behavior for a school that prides itself in educating the women leaders of tomorrow. It is, in fact, in direct violation of the school's mission statement to "enable young women to value human diversity". This is an utter violation of the Christian values that Marian works to instill in its students. Marian and the IHM's are supposed to act as ambassadors of the church, but these decisions do not follow the teachings of Christ, and in fact attempt to narrow the scope of acceptance and love.

This issue requires immediate attention. We feel that a public apology to Ms. Charlene Genther is necessary, as is an apology to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Marian, who you have so carelessly devalued through your act of firing Ms. Genther. The impact of your poor decision has reverberated throughout our community, has lit a fire beneath us that cannot be quelled. You are not acting invisibly; this is our school too.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned