COMMENT DIFFERS

ON PROBLEMS OF HOMOSEXUALITY

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(EDITOR'S NOTE-This is the second of a two-part series on homosexuality and the University.)

By DENISE WACKER and PHILIP SUTIN

There is little indication that the police are planning to stop their biennial investigations of campus homosexual activity.

In 1958, 1960. and again this year, two or more officers were assigned to oversee activities in men's rooms throughout the central campus area.

Each time a crack-down has occurred, there has been a notable and understandable reaction on the part of University officials, students and private citizens interested not only in the medical problem of homosexuality, but in the legal and moral questions which are necessarily raised by mass arrests and convictions.

Varied Opinions

When homosexual behavior-a psychological problem rather than a willful or violent crime-is regarded as a felony punishable by a prison term, there inevitably will be strong and often contradictory opinions as to how convicted homosexuals should be treated.

For the police or others involved in law enforcement, there is little admitted conflict about how to handle homosexuals and homosexual activities.

"It's a sex crime spelled out precisely by the law. When we get repeated complaints of offenses being committed in men's rooms, we have no choice and must move in an attempt to curb violations," Police Capt. Walter Krasny, who headed the 1962 investigation, said. His attitude appears to be typical of policemen dealing with the problem.

The Need for the Law William Ager, Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney, explained the rationale of the statute making homosexuality a crime.

"It-and the investigations as well-are designed to protect both the public and the offenders. Especially in a university community where there are a lot of young men, most of whom are unmarried, the homosexuals have to be stopped.

"We hear of cases all the time where some boy was 'lured' into homosexuality by an older man. Sometimes, it's just an experiment at first, but it doesn't always end with experimentation," Ager explained.

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Homosexuals' Beaten

He added that sometimes four or five high school boys will attempt to "pick up” a homosexual. One of the boys enters a men's lavatory and, if approached, agrees to engage in homosexual activities. However, before any such activity can take place the other three' or four boys attack the procurer.

"There have been cases where a man's money and valuables, or where his car will be stolen, and in almost all cases he's too embarrassed to come in and report the crime. Often, too, the boys beat these people very badly and can still get away with it because no one wants to report it.

Prevent Initial Contacts

"And we really have to protect the homosexuals from these attacks. There seems to be no other way than by preventing them from contacting the youths in the first place," Ager said.

Both Ager and Krasny denied that in the arrests "entrapment" was used. Entrapment is an illegal means said to be used sometimes by police, in which the officer either attempts to procure a male partner or else responds if another man makes it clear that he wishes homosexual activity.

For University administrators, who have often met and dealt with accused or convicted homosexuals on an entirely different level than the police, the problem and the conflicts are not quite so readily resolved. It is difficult for them to sever personal relationships and feelings and view faculty and students merely as felons or social misfits.

Homosexuals Disqualified

"There is a fairly clear policy that the University has about these people: it's always been regarded as disqualification, although each case is handled individually," Executive Vice-President Marvin L. Niehuss said.

"Every arrest and conviction is a serious matter. And every felony is a very serious mátter.

"Let's have no mistake that it's a sickness like appendicitiesno, it isn't like that. There aren't very many cured, and people have incipient tendencies.

"It just is not appropriate for the University to have on staff such encouragers," Niehuss admitted.

Handled by Deans

Niehuss added that the dean of the school or college where the convicted homosexual works, handles the case. The dean speaks to the man after his Conviction and decides what he wants done.

In all cases to date, those convicted have resigned from the University. If they had not, and the dean wished action taken, then names would have been sent to the tenure committee of the University Senate, which would further investigate the situation.

"What the University is concerned with is the possibility that normal boys might be pulled into homosexual behavior. Nichuss concluded.