Sometimes revolutions begin in quiet moments that go unnoticed. One such moment occurred here at Palomar on March 5, on a cold afternoon in front of the student center, when we – students, faculty and administrators – stood together at a vigil underscoring the rights of our gay, lesbian and transgender colleagues and classmates to attend Palomar without fear.

As a faculty member, I always begin my classes telling my students that a college is a place where we come together and express ideas from a range of perspectives. “Look around,” I say. “Represented in this room are all manner of faith traditions, cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. I have only one rule: regardless of our perspectives, we will treat each other with respect and civility; this classroom must be safe.”

Make no mistake about it: Safety and freedom to pursue one’s education regardless of one’s background is not a convenience, or a privilege of the few – it is and absolute right, particularly in America, at a public institution. All must feel safe here.

So on a cold day in March, students and colleagues alike came together in a moment to acknowledge that Palomar will not tolerate hate. Embracing, smiling, standing together, we said this place belongs to us.

Who would have thought that such a simple idea requires a revolution?

--Carlton Smith, professor of English