By Gargoyle senior editors
Posted Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, The OG, opinions

UNI IS NOT a perfect place: There have been recent controversies over “hot lists,” pranks involving offensive materials placed on and in lockers, emotionally damaging gossip blogs, and exclusive minority support services.

But high schools will be high schools, and at the end of the day Uni still provides an extraordinarily tolerant atmosphere with regard to the individuality of its students and faculty.

In the face of all of these isolated controversies, and the excitement that goes hand-in-hand with arguing for either side, we feel that many students lose track of just how supportive Uni's environment is. It's important to remember how Uni's culture compares to the teenage world that lies beyond our quaint academic getaway nestled in the heart of Campustown.

Most Uni students have been exposed to mainstream middle school environments, including (but not limited to) those of Urbana Middle School, Jefferson, Edison, St. Matthew's, and Franklin.

What's more, many of us have maintained some sort of connection to other local high schools over the years and have come to realize that Uni has an exceedingly more progressive attitude toward sensitive issues.

Thoughtful discussion and healthy debate truly play a role in the way the Uni community deals with these topics, whereas at other schools, interactions between different worldviews and ideologies are often more antagonistic.

Rarely does one hear slurs and insults thrown around maliciously in our hallways — when they are used, they are not warmly received by many peers. Clubs dealing with sensitive topics, such as the Sexual Health Awareness Group, are granted equal privileges to every other student group. Whatever disagreements we may have with each other, they don't affect our ability to coexist peacefully and respectfully.

Every year, Uni's Gay-Straight Alliance sponsors The Day of Silence. Participants in this event often don black apparel and abstain from all talking. Although Assistant Director Sue Kovacs warns students and their parents via e-mail that participating in such an event is a personal choice that could have consequences such as a grade reduction in class participation for that day, the majority of Uni faculty are understanding. They allow students to express class participation in other ways while remaining silent, demonstrating a high level of understanding and support for the GSA's mission.

When conjuring up ideas for Spirit Week last year, many Student Council members expressed enthusiasm for “Drag Day,” a day in which students would outfit themselves in apparel usually worn by the opposite gender. However, when several faculty members made it known that they would be uncomfortable with this theme, their views were respected, and the idea was dropped.

The most controversial debate at Uni this year arose because of a perceived need by some students for a minority student advocate position to support what they felt was a lack of sensitivity toward their experiences. While Uni's underrepresentation of certain minority groups is a serious issue that must be addressed, we can't agree that Uni's underrepresented minorities have faced significant obstacles gaining acceptance into the school's community.

The minority student advocates shouldn't have a tough time creating a “climate that is comfortable and conducive to the academic and social well-being” of underrepresented minorities, or “promoting multicultural awareness and positive social action by all members of the Uni community” — these are characteristics that Uni already has. The program can and should probably focus more on recruitment of underrepresented minorities.

Uni is as nurturing and open as any high school in the country, if not more so, and we should all keep that in mind as we learn and grow here. Whatever problems we have, we should continue to approach them in the same thoughtful, calm manner that we traditionally have.