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Notre Dame Editor Resigns After Publication of Anti-Gay Comic

By Betsy Mikel in News on Jan 19, 2010 9:40PM

Last week, an independent newspaper covering Notre Dame and St. Mary's college campuses ran a comic that led to yesterday's resignation of the assistant managing editor. The Observer published Kara King's letter of resignation for her oversight in the publication of "The Mobile Party" comic that made a joke about violence towards gays. In her letter, King stated that a miscommunication between her and another editor led to publication of the three-panel comic strip, which read:

- What is the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable? - No idea. - A baseball bat.

King's letter accepts responsibility for her oversight, and said she hopes the event will help university administration realize the need to fight discrimination against the LGBT community on campus:

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.

The Observer staff also published an editorial apologizing for the comic's publication that echoed many of the same sentiments. The staff takes responsibility for the comic and thanks the efforts of those working to "foster an educated community and an environment of acceptance and love." "The Mobile Party" has been discontinued, and authors Colin Hofman, Lauren Rosemeyer and Jay Wade will not be paid for their submission of the offensive comic. They also issued an apology.