Speeches

Dr. Stuart D. Cook
Boy Scout Luncheon
September 29, 2000

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed the challenges and opportunities of being an academic physician involved in teaching, patient care and research. Having chosen this path, I am very cognizant of my role as a mentor. Part of what has helped me carry out this responsibility are the lessons I learned during my years as a Boy Scout. I learned the standards of integrity by which we all should conduct our lives. I hope that as a teacher I have conveyed the importance of these principles to the students with whom I have had the good fortune to work. I hope that my actions every day convey to others that trustworthiness and loyalty should be hallmarks in our interactions with others.

Many of you here also have a personal connection to scouting as well. I'm sure you remember some positive impact of scouting in shaping your independence, work habits and ability to relate to others. Perhaps one legacy is a willingness to try something new because, after all, bravery is one of the Boy Scout laws. Perhaps another legacy is a willingness to speak out at a town meeting or volunteer for a community project because as scouts, we recited an oath that proclaims the importance of being good citizens.

So while I value my experiences as a Boy Scout, and appreciate your efforts on behalf of Newark's children, I personally disagree with the decision by the Boy Scouts to exclude homosexuals from being scout leaders.

As an individual with a homosexual family member and as President of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, I believe we must be open to and celebrate the diversity of all people. I also have firm beliefs about the necessity to have an open, tolerant environment in our University, an environment that is blind to one's color, race or sexual orientation.

We must not close our doors to differing points of view, but rather work to bridge these differences. I urge the leaders of scouting here today and across the state to recognize these concerns and work to change. This luncheon provides a forum to do that. It helps recognize leading citizens of Newark who are committed to helping the city's youth.

We are here today to bring the scouting experience to the young people of Newark because it offers a positive counterbalance to the drugs, alcohol and violence so many of our young people experience every day not only in Newark, but also in urban cities across the nation.

No one in this room is more aware of that reality than Dr. Eric Munoz, who as a trauma surgeon for many years at University Hospital has seen the effects of violence and substance abuse on young people first-hand. It is not surprising that he has provided leadership to revitalize the scout movement in Newark.

Nor is it surprising that the University and University Hospital, vital components of this city's fabric for more than 30 years, would want to help build positive linkages in the Newark community for our youth.

The Boy Scouts have made many contributions to American society over the years. During that time, our society has changed. Today the United States is the most culturally diverse nation on earth and New Jersey is the most culturally diverse state in the nation. As New Jersey's University of the Health Sciences, UMDNJ must reflect the richness and texture of the citizens of our state. We cannot just talk about race, ethnicity or gender. We must be sensitive to all form of discrimination.

Right or wrong, serious differences of opinion exist in our society about the Boy Scouts' decision not to allow homosexuals to be scout leaders. You have only to watch or read the news this past week about a local school board in New York City deciding to limit scouting activities in the districts school building to realize this decision probably is debated in some community in our nation every day.

This issue is also topical because over this past week, University faculty, students and staff have discussed their concern about this issue with me. As a result of our conversations, I am announcing today that I have directed Catherine Bolder, the University's associate vice president for affirmative action, to review the current University policies regarding discrimination.

I have also asked her to meet with gay and lesbian representatives on our campuses to better understand the needs of our University family, and to propose improvements where appropriate to encourage our student body, our faculty and our staff to be more sensitive to cultural and sexual orientation differences. To me this is an example of how a University can help to advance our society.

Each of us has the opportunity every day to strengthen society's ability to do right thing. I hope our students know that if your goal is to be the best that you can be, you cannot do so if you have bias in your heart or hate in your mind. I urge all of us to keep these principles in mind so that our society can realize its full potential and be a beacon of ethical values for the entire world.

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