🚀 go-pugleaf

>
> One last question just came to mind:  If I had approached this as a discussion
> question, rather than as an "informal survey" (which is how I described it),
> would I still be accused of being improper?  Really, folks, all I wanted was a
> little input.
>
> Tony

I hope we have finished with the question of poor word choice.  The question
of professorial responsibility is still significant and worth discussing.
The problem is that real responsibility cannot exceed authority, or power,
and do we have the power to assure a safe environment for any person who is
endangered by discrimination?  A student may feel safe to disclose in
the environment of the office but not the classroom because of deserved fear
of fellow students.  Encouraging self-disclosure may, in reality, expose
the student to abuse the professor cannot control.  Countering homophobic
discourse, on the other hand, is something a professor of communication
should be expected to do.
Jim Mackin
Tulane University
mackin@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu