PITTSBURGH (PTTP) – More than 10,000 students have signed a petition calling for three anti-trans events scheduled to take place on Pitt’s campus to be canceled.
The three events, scheduled to take place on March 24, March 27, and April 18, are hosted by conservative groups on campus. On March 24 at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Learning, Cabot Phillips, editor of the right-wing website the Daily Wire will come to campus. On March 27, Riley Gaines, a swimmer who competed against trans swimmer Lia Thomas and has called for trans women to be taken out of women’s sports will be on campus. Then, on April 18, Michael Knowles, who recently said to ‘eradicate transgenderism’ will be on campus.
The events have brought up concerns for the safety of transgender students as anti-trans attacks rise throughout the country.
“I think we’ve seen a lot of extreme conservative beliefs get crazy,” Rainbow Alliance president Laura Stravach said. “So, it does make me fearful for the safety of trans-people.”
Some have already experienced attacks on campus and believe the harmful rhetoric could lead to a rise in those incidents. With the events occurring, a letter was penned to the university to cancel the events.
“There is precedent for similar events on other college campuses to be canceled,” student Catherine Hoescht said. “There are lawsuits that have emerged from this. Pitt does have the power to cancel this.”
In a statement, the university responded, stating they would not cancel the events. Instead, they do not believe they have the jurisdiction to call off the events despite the concerns of harmful rhetoric.
“While some community members have called on Pitt to cancel these events, it is important to remember that registered independent student organizations are permitted to invite outside speakers of their choosing to campus if they follow University guidelines and the law,” the statement read. “Also, use of Pitt property by a student organization does not mean that Pitt endorses the event or the speaker’s expressed viewpoint.”
However, many students feel they are underrepresenting the harm of the events. Not only that, some are pointing out the hypocrisy of the stance when related to their stances on diversity and equity.
“It’s really heartbreaking,” student Aster Ecker said. “People are realizing that Pitt is not as committed to diversity and inclusion as they say they are. It affects class time and my education.”
Flyers have been printed and two protests have been called for March 24 and March 27 against the events. While the university has yet to cancel these events, the community hopes these protests can lead to their cancellation.