I can no longer bear reading the Viewpoints of students making unjust, invalid claims on who the Catholic faith tells us to hate (namely people who are homosexual). Let's move beyond that and talk about whom it tells us to love: everybody, especially those who are the most vulnerable in society. If I am interpreting Scripture correctly, I believe one of Jesus' main messages was "Love thy neighbor." Basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching speak to the dignity and worth of every person and the preferential option for and with the poor.

This week, a friend of mine (I'll use the name Tom), who was previously homeless, came to a meeting with me in the Alumni Memorial Union. The meeting was about the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund, an initiative that proposes creating a small tax to generate a renewable revenue source to rehabilitate and create affordable housing. Tom sat in on this meeting along with several other students who are genuinely concerned about the rights of people who are homeless or have low incomes. Tom then walked with me to the Student Commons on the first floor of the AMU. We met up with a couple other friends, joked around and talked. When one of my friends was ready to leave, Tom offered to walk her home. As they exited the union, they were stopped and questioned by Public Safety. Apparently someone had called in from the organizational commons saying that there was a man there who wasn't a student acting in suspicious ways and "following girls around."

Looking back on the evening, there is no way Tom's interactions with us could have been interpreted as suspicious or dangerous. He was clearly a good friend of ours, as a couple of us have known him for three or four years and are very comfortable with him. He never left my side the entire time he was in the union. The person who made the call clearly let ignorance and stereotypes overpower rational judgment in his decision to call public safety. I can say with great confidence that had Tom been white, dressed in trendy clothes and not missing a tooth or two, the call would not have been made. I encourage the student who made the phone call and all others who are reading this to think before making rash judgments that are driven by prejudice.

This event obviously upset Tom, as he has been treated unfairly on the basis of race and social class numerous times in the past. He was disrespected, dehumanized and treated without dignity because of his appearance. That is not acceptable. It pains me to think that my peers have the power to do that and are completely unaware of it.

I urge students to move beyond ridiculous stereotypes and using their religion as a reason to discriminate. The only way to grow is to spend time with people who come from a different background than yours. Contact Midnight Run in University Ministry to find out about ways to volunteer and get to know people who are homeless, participate in Hunger Clean-Up on April 16, go to a meeting of the Gay Straight Alliance or an ethnic student association. No matter what your faith is, you're missing the point if you are using it to justify hate.

Nicole Hertel is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences.

This viewpoint appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 5 2005.