March 1, 2011 12:29 am
Students Boycott Chick-fil-A
Over the last several weeks, debate over the future of Chick-fil-A Thursdays at the Daily Grind has been intensifying.
According to members of St. Mary’s Triangle & Rainbow Society (STARS) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Chick-fil-A has been donating money to organizations that oppose both gay marriage and civil rights for the LGBTQ community.
In response to this revelation, the members of these clubs have organized a boycott in an attempt to inform students about the actions of Chick-fil-A, as well as to increase support from community members to find alternate options for students.
Every Thursday, students from both STARS and SDS will table in front of the campus center by the entrance to the Daily Grind.
They hand out informational sheets about whom Chick-fil-A has supported and why the Daily Grind should no longer purchase food from them.
These members have also been asking students to sign their petition to pledge their support for the cause and not to eat Chick-fil-A.
Tyson Morgan, a senior and member of STARS, said that the goal of this boycott “is that the St. Mary’s Campus Store and Daily Grind, in conjunction with the students, will immediately start seeking an alternate option to Chick-fil-A that doesn’t have such a deplorable record on human rights.”
Even though students were aware of this boycott through word of mouth and social media like Facebook, members of the Administration were not told of the protest until several weeks into the process.
“I first heard about the boycott through email from Joanne Goldwater on [February 9th],” said Richard Wagner, Manager of the Campus Store, “I am just trying to find the facts and to have a better understanding of the situation.”
Morgan, in a letter to the faculty, states that Chick-fil-A’s actions “do not reflect the ideals and principles that St. Mary’s strives to maintain.”
While breaking down the Mission Statement, Morgan believes that Chick-fil-A on campus does not “foster social and ethical development” nor can the College be considered “a living legacy to the ideals of tolerance.”
“The problem here is the difficulty to find information,” said Wagner, “but [Chick-fil-A] has not violated any SMCM policies.”
Even though they advocate for the total removal of Chick-fil-A products from the Campus Store, Morgan did establish an ideal time for the removal.
“While we encourage patrons of the Grind to refrain from purchasing Chick-fil-A,’ said Morgan, “we ask that Chick-fil-A not be removed from the Daily Grind until a suitable alternative is found.”
Morgan continued by saying “we are currently taking suggestions from students and would greatly appreciate a collaboration of efforts between students and St. Mary’s faculty and staff.”
Wagner echoed this comment when he said “we are open to other options; we are simply trying to provide options for students.”
Both the Campus Store and STARS/SDS are looking for feedback about the boycott and alternate options that the Campus Store should consider.
“I want to hear from everyone, either if you agree or disagree with the boycott,” said Wagner.
There is sure to be more debate over the issue of Chick-fil-A in the coming weeks but Wagner was pleased that the debate “is being civil.”
I disagree with Morgan’s definition of tolerance. Her definition means ‘all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal’ but by that definition she fails to be tolerant of Chick-fil-a’s beliefs. Tolerance does not mean you have to agree with a view one really does not agree with. Tolerance means to endure or to put up with someone’s beliefs or actions without necessarily agreeing with them. In no way does Chick-fil-a’s beliefs or actions show an intolerant stance in any way opposed to the “ideals and principles that St. Mary’s strives to maintain.” That is, unless St. Mary’s “ideals” mean that no one should have a viewpoint that is different from some collective SMCM view?
So giving money to organizations that actively oppose same-sex marriage, promote “ex-gay therapies” that are psychologically damaging, and blatantly refuse to allow members of the LGBT community to use their facilities is what SMCM should support? This isn’t about beliefs, this is about their actions, and they should be held accountable for them.
“blatantly refuse to allow members of the LGBT community to use their facilities”
Really? Did this happen in California, MD? What evidence do you have of this? Are you saying that a non-heterosexual individual walked into a chick-fil-a and was actually told that they couldn’t use the bathroom? You throw around large accusations with out support.
Side note: I have yet to see a survey of any kind asking students what alternatives they would like to see instead of delicious chicken sandwiches. The only thing I have seen in regards to this is on the boycott facebook page, in which some one mentioned going to Chipotle, Five Guys, and Blue Wind. I say keep it local, and not give more money to huge companies like Chipotle and Five Guys.
Not talking about individual chain stores – they love everyone’s money. Talking about their conference center, run by their corporate foundation:
http://news.change.org/stories/yes-chick-fil-a-says-we-explicitly-do-not-like-same-sex-couples:
“We [WinShape Foundation's Retreat Center] do not accept homosexual couples because of the statement in our contract.”
I agree that keeping it local would be a win-win for everybody.
Morgan is a HE just FYI
very colorful language, Mr. Morgan. If we are going to talk about the college seeking alternative options to chicken vendors that may be homophobic, why don’t we start with the deplorable human rights violator Jammeh, president of the GAMBIA. boycott that program. This seems like petty chicken sh-t! dig deeper than the chicken pile. take a good hard look at the Gambia’s human right record. Let’s go big……
@J – My definition of tolerance does include and extends to Chick-Fil-A. I support the work they do for selected communities and such, HOWEVER their intolerance of homosexuality is one of the reasons we are protesting to begin with. If you don’t like homosexuals or gay marriage then that is fine, I may disagree with you but I don’t really have an issue with that because just as my being gay does not affect your livelihood your religious opinion does not affect mine. When you start holding events to “convert” impressionable and sometimes troubled youngsters from gay to straight there is a major problem. Tell me how supporting an organization that funds “physiological torture” of homosexuals is congruent with a boycott? Yet the peaceful protest of a company outweighs the millions of dollars being spent aimed at oppressing a group of people and denying them rights? I find this both puzzling and disturbing.
“The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation.” – source: APA Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies) POSITION STATEMENT
Groups that harbor such hatred and literally encourage homosexuals to engage in self loathing practices based upon the unfortunate hetero-normative society in which we live should be held accountable for their actions. A boycott is successful in remaining tolerant by informing the public and asking people on an individual level to vote with their wallets. We are not affecting the actual well being of students by damaging their mental states or by forcing our viewpoint, we are supplying information and hoping that economic pressures due to increased consumer consciousness will result in the removal of Chick-Fil-A.
The sad part is that so many people are aware of what is going on and yet still maintain that Chick-Fil-A is more important than basic human and civil rights. As my previous arguments have been centered on the civil right of marriage I shall, for the purpose of avoiding repetition, shift my focus to human rights.
Along with freedom of speech and religion comes responsibility. Why must we allow people to degrade our society by promoting such animosity? Looking back in our own history we see what happens when there is a lack of responsibility with regard to freedom of religion. Take Jim Jones for example. I think everyone would agree that events at Jonestown are perhaps an extreme example, but none-the-less this illustrates what happens when religious groups exploit their “rights” and “opinions” which ultimately force their viewpoints upon others. Why are they not held responsible?
Chick-Fil-A is having a profound impact in both the heterosexual and homosexual world. The groups that they contribute to are a hindrance to the acceptance of the LGBTQ community, as well as progressive society at large. The American Mental Health Channel states that 1 out of every 3 suicides is a gay teen. I think this is a travesty that in part is the result of religious pressures which have convoluted the public sentiment on homosexuality. If we know that people so strongly refute homosexuality and we know that gay people are being fed lies by groups about the ability to “pray the gay away” why should we allow these groups to continue telling them that their life is wrong?
For arguments on why allowing MARRIAGE specifically is important/ relevant please see previous comments made on the facebook group.
Also if you are truly interested in United States gay marriage rights I highly recommend the short book “A More Perfect Union; Why Straight America Must Stand Up for Gay Rights”
@ Anon 2 – Thanks for that. I am in fact male haha.
@ Anonymous who stated: “I have yet to see a survey of any kind asking students
what alternatives they would like to see instead of delicious chicken sandwiches.”
There has been a voluntary survey at the table in front of the grind every Thursday for the past few weeks. A lot of students and faculty have made suggestions, I invite you to stop by and make a suggestion of your own. We are very committed to ensuring you aren’t left without an alternative source for food preferably a local vendor.
@ Anyone Who Cares – I have directly replied to a strikingly similar comment before on the facebook page. I agree that there are a lot of other issues and places where we could focus some energy in support of gay rights. We have to start someplace do we not? Citing other problems as a reasonable excuse for inaction on this one is counterproductive. Boycotting a college program that has the ability to demonstrate meaningful coexistence between homosexuals and heterosexuals to Gambians does not seem like an effective move to me. That being said I do have a problem with what is going on and the mistreatment of homosexuals worldwide, particularly in Africa. We have chosen to focus our efforts in tandem with colleges across the nation to show that denial of rights and proper ethical treatment backed by religion based arguments is not okay. Religious rhetoric should have no bearing on the rights of anyone.
if by meaningful coexistence, you mean – under the protection of bill roberts and his relationship with jammeh. While Gambians are being prosecuted around you.
“If we know that people so strongly refute homosexuality and we know that gay people are being fed lies by groups about the ability to “pray the gay away” why should we allow these groups to continue telling them that their life is wrong?”
Why? Because everyone, regardless of their views, is entitled to free speech and free practice of religion. Just as those opposed to Chick-fil-a’s actions are entitled to boycott, these folks are entitled to practice their beliefs. While I think it is very sad an unfortunate that this is going on, we cannot tell people that they should or should not give money to a company that supports an organization that promotes these activities. It is a personal choice. It doesn’t mean that the person buying the sandwich is anti-gay or doesn’t care about human rights. Perhaps they just respect the fact that these radically religious organizations are well within their right to practice these beliefs.
I don’t think we should assume that people buying Chick-fil-a believe that sandwiches are more important than human rights. It isn’t fair to put words in others’ mouths like that. And, in fact, isn’t freedom of speech and religion also a human rights issue? I’m not trying to say it’s more or less important than gay rights, but I hope you will consider the full meaning of saying “Chick-Fil-A is more important than basic human and civil rights.” In some ways, Chick-fil-a (and the boycott as well) are demonstrating some key human rights that we, as Americans, benefit from.
“Perhaps they just respect the fact that these radically religious organizations are well within their right to practice these beliefs.”
The only problem is that by buying food from Chick-fil-a, you are not merely “respecting” their beliefs and subsequent actions — you are SUPPORTING these beliefs and actions and encouraging the actions to continue with every dollar you spend.
Just because CFA might leave campus doesn’t mean they’re going out of business. If people really still want their food, they can go just up the road to get it.
“I don’t think we should assume that people buying Chick-fil-a believe that sandwiches are more important than human rights. It isn’t fair to put words in others’ mouths like that.”
Are your really arguing that ignorance is an acceptable excuse?