We believe Wash. U. made an appropriate decision in removing the First 40 Target trip from the freshman orientation schedule. Following the Citizens United Supreme Court decision in January, which opened the door for an expansion of corporate political contributions, Target contributed $150,000 to MN Forward, a conservative interest group. One of MN Forward’s sponsored candidates, Tom Emmer, has been linked to calls that LGBT individuals be put to death. Wash. U.’s cancellation of this partnership was a direct result of Target’s connection to such virulent anti-gay sentiment.

Some of the comments posted on Student Life’s news article (“WU ends partnership with Target,” Aug. 25) last week called Wash. U.’s decision an act of coercion or indoctrination. We disagree. This is not an instance of Wash. U. dictating behavior to the student body. Rather, it is a case of our private university acting in accord with its own institutional values. In previous policy decisions, such as removing bottled water from vending machines and banning tobacco on campus, Wash. U. has been open about the set of principles upon which it acts—principles such as sustainability and public health.

We see Wash. U.’s decision as well within the scope of its position as a private institution with explicit goals and ideals, and in keeping with an appropriate degree of autonomy to uphold these goals and ideals through policy decisions. In many ways, Wash. U. is very clear about the goals and ideals underlying the decision to opt out of its partnership with Target. The value of diversity, including with regard to sexual orientation, is a pillar of Residential Life programming and is actively advocated to freshmen. Wash. U.’s decision is thus consistent with its agenda and with the message it wishes to send to the freshman community and the student body at large.

We also believe that acting in opposition to anti-gay sentiments is commendable in itself; it is a decision in line with tolerance, diversity and human rights, and we believe that it is representative of the wishes of the overall undergraduate community.

The Citizens United decision allows corporations to donate funds in support of political agendas through political action committees. It also gives us, as citizens and consumers, the ability and responsibility to hold these corporations accountable for where their donations go. We commend Wash. U. for doing so.

We would also like to add some perspective regarding the value of the canceled event: We feel confident that Wash. U. freshmen will be able to acquire hangers and doorstops even though they are no longer being bussed to Target. We recognize that Wash. U.’s action was only a small gesture in a larger battle against homophobia, but we feel that for the small price of opting out, it was the right symbolic message.

As students, we can only hope to remember the University’s decision as we shop for school supplies for the rest of the year—though most of us will inevitably forget and shop at Target without thinking. We can’t all be perfect.