Counters Rorem, “We have College Democrats with whom we’ve spoken who substantiate the claim that he was actively participating in that incident.”

Liberal side

Sid Selvara, president of the college’s student government, said he’s monitored this controversy since its inception. He’s read the document and believes the College Democrats and College Republicans are trying to find common ground on some of the issues Republicans have raised.

On perhaps the most provocative issue — the allegation of instructors stifling the free expression of conservative students — Selvara says he’s unsure whether the complaint is valid.

Here’s Rorem’s take: “I’m not worried about being challenged. If I’m not challenged, it isn’t college. But I don’t need to be berated in classroom or hear glib remarks from teachers. When you’re degrading somebody because of their opinions, that’s irresponsible, and it’s happened to me. Of the 16 classes I’ve taken, it’s probably happened in four or five of them.”

Says Selvara, “I can understand where he’s coming from, but I haven’t necessarily picked up on that ... But if one student or a small group feels that they are left out, we need to talk about it. Even if they’re wrong, we still need to talk about it.”

Toutain, meanwhile, said he’s proud of the faculty on campus and believes they act professionally at all times.

Having said that, however, he’s not suggesting it’s impossible for someone to go over the line.

“I have a great deal of confidence in our faculty and in our staff that they are doing their jobs well and being respectful of people of whatever political pursuit and ethnic background and so forth,” Toutain said. “I’m also a realist, and I think people can mess up and try to be funny and make a comment that is off-putting and has a chilling effect. It certainly is possible. I don’t think these complaints come out of thin air. They’re based on something.”

Toutain says the college takes all student concerns very seriously, and that each time a student lodges a complain, they try to offer several options to resolve the issue.

“If anybody feels they’re being disadvantaged or unwelcome, we have to pay attention,” Toutain said.

When it comes to grade appeals, there’s an official process in place. When it comes to complaints of faculty members, students are encouraged to take their complaints to department chairs. When it comes to offensive pamphlets or vandalism to fliers, there’s a judicial board set up to hear students out.

He mentioned a recent situation when a student came to him during election time with a complaint of another student making politically based derogatory comments toward him.

Toutain said the student was given three options: file a complaint, invite the student for a mediated discussion in Toutain’s office, or simply approach the student and talk about it.

“He chose door No. 3,” Toutain said, and the students resolved it themselves.