To the Editor:As a senior about to graduate from Brandeis, an institution that has always prided itself on being both politically active and open-minded, I am outraged by the lack of respect that has been shown for the Brandeis Republicans' "Conservative Coming Out Week." To make things clear, I personally choose not to affiliate myself with either the Democratic or the Republican parties, and thus my bias lies with neither side. However, as we near the end of a difficult year in which our community has been confronted with controversial issues dealing with race and religion on our campus, I am appalled to see that we have yet to learn our lesson. Regardless of the defining characteristic (be it race, religion, or political party), minorities on the Brandeis campus should not feel threatened as an individual or as a group.

Offensive remarks have been written on the "Conservative Coming Out Week" posters, club leaders have been harassed at their table in Usdan and I have heard snide comments passed between students while walking on campus. While the Brandeis Republicans do not expect everyone in the community to agree with their views, the least they deserve is the community's respect-a respect that all other student clubs demand. I laud the Brandeis Republicans for their effort to make their presence known on campus, and I urge my peers, professors, administrators and University staff members to give them the respect they deserve, and the freedom to speak in an open forum without risk of reproach or reprisal.

-Michelle Battat '04