Oregon students stunned by antigay fliers

Students and campus officials at Southern Oregon University are stunned by a set of fliers placed on students' doors that call for violence against gays and lesbians. The threatening fliers, which suggest that gays should be murdered, have led to a police investigation and a campuswide safety alert. Eric Rodriguez, Southern Oregon University's interim security director, said several versions of the fliers were found attached to doors and in mailboxes on the Ashland campus. The early versions were more tame, he said, and then became "more and more" graphic and violent in nature. "The Bible says that homosexual offenders should be put to death!" read one flier. No one has claimed responsibility for the pamphlets. Students held a campus protest Thursday. A vigil and rally was planned for Friday night. The authors and distributors of the fliers could face charges of harassment and intimidation, Rodriguez said. Southern Oregon University president Elisabeth Zinser sent a campuswide letter condemning the incident and vowing to reiterate the campus culture of tolerance. (AP)