I rarely take overt partisan positions on Facebook. But today I made an exception by standing with my many heterosexual students, former students, family, colleagues, and friends who are turning Facebook red in support of marriage equity.

While my politics are no secret, I am caution about being overtly partisan because I do not want students to fear that my personal political views will prevent a free exchange of ideas in my classroom; that I will base their grades on politics rather than quality.

However, it is inconceivable—whether or not I had explicitly stated my position—that anyone would not realize that I favor marriage equity. Therefore, I doubt that by publicly supporting my heterosexual—and homosexual—students and former students who are turning Facebook red changes how comfortable students will find my classroom.

For example, even before I came out in favor of marriage equity, I read and commented on a Facebook posting of a former student who had initially decided to stay silent on the issue because “the last thing I wanna do is piss someone off.” This was written by a thoughtful individual who does not seek out simplistic solutions to complex problems. It is someone for whom I gained a great deal of respect while we worked together at Schoolcraft College and, as I wrote to him, “I do not have any less respect for you because you hope for a different ruling from the Supreme Court than the one I believe to be the correct.”

One of the issues that face faculty members is how we manage our digital identities. My preference is one that currently works for me and one I do not intend to modify at this time. But I am starting to rethink some of the premises on which my position is based. Maybe it is not the lack of partisan postings that causes students to feel comfortable? Maybe they are comfortable because I truly value diversity of opinion within my classes?

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Photo caption: People were turning Facebook red by using this equity sign–or some variation–as their Facebook image.