Welcoming or Unwelcoming

 

Ohio State recently announced that the only wall decor allowed in its dorm common spaces would be school-themed. The spirit behind this policy was to be as welcoming as possible, as public space at a public institution. The question this approach begs is, are things like the LGBTQ+ flag and climate change information and advocacy for Gaza inherently welcoming or unwelcoming?

One school of thought says that by posting such things, incoming students see that these are important topics and that these perspectives and identities are allowed to safely exist in this space. A closeted gay person from a conservative rural town may be relieved and delighted that they are welcomed and celebrated here. A budding activist will be happy to know controversial topics are not avoided but rather are elevated, leading to healthy discourse and advocacy. College is, quintessentially, a place where one's identity is forged, which makes seeing others like you and knowing that you are seen is so important at this phase of life.

The opposing school of thought considers much of this imagery to be akin to religious zealotry that, in service of welcoming one perspective, attempts to intimidate other perspectives into adherence. What one person perceives as "I am accepted here," others may perceive as "when I see these images, I know dissenting voices will be silenced upon penalty of being called bigoted or ignorant." If so, that too may have the effect of making people feel that they and their viewpoints are not welcome here.

(Interestingly, religion itself does not appear to engender the same reaction. If the community bulletin board included a flyer for a Bible study or Muslim discussion, my general sense is that folks for whom that is of interest would love seeing that without others who are not into that feeling attacked. I think that's the premise of this opposing school of thought, is that certain topics have risen to the level of religious zealotry, even at the same time that most religious expressions themselves are not seen as being exclusionary.)

University campuses should be safe spaces for all people, all opinions, and all discussions. College dorms, at least when I was that age, are the quintessential place where you stay up late with amazing people celebrating each other's existence, getting into heated debates, and expanding your perspective by learning more about others who are different from you. So, assuming that is a noble goal, is Ohio State's policy helpful or harmful towards that end. What do you think?