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Relations between Queer Alliance (QA) and Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) remain unstable, as DKE brothers have contacted Public Safety regarding chalkings that members of QA wrote in reference to the fraternity on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Queer Alliance held a second night of its fall chalkings on Sunday night. The chalkings on Wednesday, Oct. 4 were erased due to rain. 

According to Laura Grappo ’01, a member of QA, Sunday night’s chalkings were targeted at the Admissions tour route and aimed at the pre-frosh visiting the campus.

However, not all of the chalkings were directed at those visiting campus. According to Britton Boyd ’02, the house manager of DKE, 16 separate chalkings were directed at DKE.

According to Boyd, one chalking referred to DKE as "The hate house," while another commanded "Look at the size of my DKE." Another chalking said "Entering gay locker room country."

"I think it reflects poorly on them," Boyd said. "It is immature and bigoted."

Last Wednesday’s chalkings that were on DKE’s property were erased by two DKE brothers. The DKE fraternity house is privately owned.

While Sunday’s chalkings were not actually on DKE’s property, Boyd said he and other DKE brothers found them harassing in nature.

"The bottom line is, it was unnecessary," Boyd said. "It was almost like they’re harassing and trying to provoke controversy. Under the student guide book, that is harassment."

Boyd said upon seeing the chalkings around 12 a.m. on Thursday, DKE members contacted Public Safety. He said a report was filed with Public Safety and pictures were taken of the
chalkings.

Boyd said he has also contacted Dean of Student Services Michael Whaley, but has not yet spoken with him. 

The third contact Boyd made was to Phil Gentry ’02, the head of QA. Boyd said Gentry was in agreement that many of the chalkings were inappropriate.

"I thought it was irresponsible," Gentry said. "I think the chalkings are a powerful medium we have. I don’t want to think it’s being abused."

Gentry said he did not know who wrote the chalkings about DKE.

Gentry said QA has not yet had a meeting since Sunday’s chalkings, so the incident has not been discussed among the group. Gentry noted that QA provides the chalk to individuals, but people do their own chalking.

In light of DKE’s complaint and past chalkings directed against the Administration and James Burke ’03, Gentry said QA may discuss giving more direction to the chalkings.

"It certainly is something we need to explore. It’s [personal attacks] have come up every year since we started chalking," Gentry said. "We need to communicate better about what we are doing. It’s certainly a rough issue for us. It’s been very controversial to us in our group."

Gentry characterized the University’s QA as having a radical constituency. According to Marc Mayer ’02, individuals in QA have very different opinions about the issues involving the chalkings.

Members of QA are divided in their opinions regarding the role chalkings should play in affirming homosexuality and dealing with issues of homophobia.

"I don’t understand how this act that’s anonymous, that washes away with rain leaves such an indelible mark on people’s consciences," Mayer said.

Mayer said the chalkings were an important factor in his decision to attend the University. He said he could not allow his parents to know that he was homosexual, or that finding a "queer friendly" campus was a priority. He said QA’s chalkings made him aware that Wesleyan would be a good choice for him. 

"It’s the one time when visibility is there," Mayer said, in reference to the QA chalking practice.

Hope Dector ’02 agreed that all types of chalkings should be permitted as freedom of speech. 

"I think a lot of people are trying to push buttons," Dector said. "If things are aimed at DKE then there’s hostility."

Dector also noted the past tension between DKE and QA was a factor in the chalkings directed at DKE.

One past tension involved an incident last fall in which two students reported hearing DKE pledges shouting "We hate faggots." According to Gentry, the charge was brought before the Student Judicial Board (SJB), but was dismissed because of lack of evidence.

However, Dector said she believed the chalkings directed at DKE were not of a malicious nature, but instead were humorous. She described many of the chalkings as tongue-in-cheek.

"I think it’s trying to fuck with a lot of norms," Dector said.

Some QA members felt that chalkings were not central to QA’s goal to chalk the tour route.

"I didn’t think a dialogue about DKE was particularly helpful in that situation," Grappo said.

While Boyd said he is not sure if they will bring formal charges against QA, he wanted the incident to be on record with Public Safety.

According to Gentry, the content of specific chalkings has never been under scrutiny before the SJB. Gentry said QA chalkings have been practiced for approximately ten years.

"It is possible [to bring charges of this nature before the SJB]," said Ben Perl ’01, a SJB member. "Although, it is not up to me to decide. It’s our role to adjudicate what is put before us... Without having heard the specific facts of the case, it’s impossible to assign guilt or innocence."

Perl said he felt the SJB should be used only in the case of a stalemate, if the issue could not be resolved any other way.

"I’d personally much rather see the two groups talk about it and resolve the issue instead of initiating charges with the SJB," Perl said.

With such opposing views, dialogue between the two parties may prove difficult.

"Whatever is expressed is expressed by individuals," Dector said. "If certain members of QA feel that way about DKE, they have the right to express it."

"There’s a double standard on this campus," Boyd said. "It’s bigoted and you can’t live like that."