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Assistant Managing Editor of Notre Dame’s Observer Resigns Over Gay Cartoon Flap


Notre Dame, IN–(ENEWSPF)– Kara King, Assistant Managing Editor of the University of Notre Dame’s student newspaper The Observer, tendered her resignation to the publication’s editorial board Monday. The editors published a statement indicating they "greatly respect King’s courage in writing a letter to our community and appreciate her service to The Observer." The resignation follows the January 13 publication of the cartoon ‘The Mobile Party’ which many considered to be anti-gay.

In an open letter to readers of the Observer, King writes, "A miscommunication between another editor and myself led to the comic running without me first reading and approving the material. Regardless, no excuse can justify the comic even being considered for publication, and the duty to censor it fell to me. I failed to do so, and am solely responsible for providing a forum for this message of hate."

She continues:

More than ever, we as a University need to fight against stereotypes and for the equal rights of all who consider our campus and community home. If nothing else, the administration needs to use this instance to acknowledge that discrimination against the LGBT community is a very real problem, and one that should not be tolerated. Adding sexuality to the non-discrimination clause and recognizing student groups who fight for these equal rights is overdue, and excuses for not doing so have been used for too long. This is not a problem that can be solved overnight, but the University can join The Observer in taking the first steps towards remedying it.

King, a senior at Notre Dame, says she has worked for The Observer for her entire undergraduate career.


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