I was saddened to see that Notre Dame has been ranked No. 1 by the Princeton Review for Colleges and Universities for "Alternative Lifestyles not an Alternative."
It is incredibly disappointing as an alumna of Notre Dame to see that the intolerance for gay and lesbian students that I observed when a student at Notre Dame has been not only verified but recognized widely. I realize that the University follows the teachings of the Church and I respect that.
My sadness is that while the University may not encourage alternative lifestyles, its students seemingly do not, either. It may be okay to hold ill will toward homosexuals and discourage their civil rights in the Catholic Disneyland that is Notre Dame but as you (third person) are exposed to different cultures and people in cities of the world, that kind of intolerance and ignorance is not accepted and is only a mark of inhumanity against fellow men and women.
I'm ashamed and embarrassed when my co-workers and friends ask me about this.
Laura Stolpmanclass of '95Aug. 26, 2003
