Typed internal memos exchanged between University of Maine administrators regarding the Wilde-Stein Club and comments by an administrator that  homosexuality [is] a sickness

Fritsche, JoAnne

Neville, Howard R.

English

University of Maine

The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Special Collections 10-21-1974 Internal memos regarding "the homosexual issue" JoAnne Fritsche University of Maine Howard R. Neville President, University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice  Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Gender Equity in Education Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Fritsche, JoAnne and Neville, Howard R., "Internal memos regarding "the homosexual issue"" (1974). Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. 322. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/322 This Correspondence is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE at Orono "An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer" October 21, 1974 TO: Dr. Howard R. Neville FROM: JoAnn Fritsche RE: Wilde-Stein Orono, Maine 044 73 207/ 581-7147 Yes, I hope that the homosexual issue will become neither a local nor a statewide issue. But apparently someone from the Wilde-Stein Club gave some information to the Campus. A Campus reporter interviewed me this ~:do../) morning. Since I thought that answering her would quell more fears than my not answering her, I submitted. In the interview I emphasized that both Bob Keane and I have asked that the University attorney give a legal opinion as soon as possible. I indicated also that my conversations with the administrators concerned made me believe that all officials involved are eager to resolve this issue in a manner consistent with fair-ness and with the law. I made the points also 1) that I must refer ·, the matter to others for further consider-ation: 2) that discussion of the case at this time is premature, because we have not yet had time even to dis-cuss the issues with all the administrators directly or indirectly involved: 3) that the American Psychiatric Association's position is that homosexuality is not an illness and that the latter professional position makes some people question why the homosexual issue is raised on a medical form. I hope I handled the interview in a way you would approve. Since I had no advance warning about the inter-view topic, I was unable to clear the interview with you. It seemed to me that once the reporter was across the desk all I could do was to act as if the issue was just another routine matter which had not been acted upon in the past because the question had not been brought to our attention until Tuesday. ~ UNIVERSITY OF MAINE at Orono October 17, 1974 TO: Dr. Howard Neville FROM: Jo~..nn Fritsche ~)Ci~ I ) Rr"S: Wilde-Stein I!'.a tter again Alumni Hall Orono, l\Ia inc 04473 207 /581-7147 J a ck Blake said that he has already asked Barney Shur to add the homosexual issue to the list of subjects he is to discuss within the next two weeks. lly inquiry of Shur had not yet gone out, fortunate ly. Jack indi-cated that he would inform me of the legal opinion as soon as Shur has given it. I'm very pleased that Jack took prompt action on this matter. I want to try to prevent the students from crea ting a state-wide issue. ct ~oc:.k Blake ---_____. .. LINIVERSITY OF MAINE ?tt Orono ••An Equal Employment Opportunity Employei"' October 17, 1974 TO: Dr. Howard Neville FROM: JoAnn Fritsche RE~ Wilde-Stein grievance Alumni Hall Orono, l)fojne 04473 207 /581-7147 Apparently Bob Keane has taken the position that legal opinions should be checked out regarding homosex-ual preference. The Wilde-Stein people returned this morning to tell me this. (They resented his sta.tements which implied a view of homosexuality as a sickness.) Therefore, if you agree, I would like to contact Barney Shur for a detailed legal response . I have told the Hilde-Stein representatives that within two weeks I shall try to have legal opinions on this matter . They told rae that they would t ake no action until I had had time to investigate the matter. Would you plaase indicate any about procedures I should follow? 10/111 1,~ 1- ._J . Q,--~~ 'PQll--~ ~ wishes you may have ~~~ 1~·~ /~L 

Internal memos regarding  the homosexual issue

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1321&context=social_justice

Internal memos regarding the homosexual issue

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Maine