LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- University of Louisville President John Ramsey has voiced his opinion about the Chick-fil-A controversy.
Nearly 1,300 people have signed an online petition, asking U of L to remove the restaurant from the student center.
Chick-fil-A is catching flack from people across the country for CEO Dan Cathy's recent comments about gay marriage.
Chick-fil-A says it treats every person with honor, dignity and respect.
U of L officials have said Cathy's statement is offensive and unnecessary, but has not made a decision on taking action against the chain. The University says the comments work against efforts U of L has made to ensure it is an inclusive and tolerant campus.
The Family Foundation and other First Amendment supporters are also blasting U of L.
"Our students feel both ways, and there are people who feel strong on both ways," said U of L President Dr. James Ramsey. "Our responsibility is to take these opportunities and make them teaching moments, learning moments," Ramsey said. "And the message here is that tolerance works both ways."
Andrew Walker with the Family Foundation doesn't believe U of L stands for tolerance.
"It's hypocritical to insist that you're for diversity, you're for tolerance, but then to turn around and say that there are some positions and there are some standards that are not welcome on campus," Walker said.
"I pay money to go here and it's really important that an organization or a business on campus isn't actively working against me," said M.C. Lampe, a transgender student on campus.
Lampe is scheduled to meet with the provost on behalf of one of the LGBT groups on Wednesday. She says she wants to be reassured that "our university stands in support of us, and that they're helping us get the equality that we deserve."
Ramsey and the provost have both agreed not to eat at Chick-fil-A, although Ramsey did say tolerance is a two-way street.
"So people are saying it's OK for others to say, but we don't want you to say what you think," Ramsey said. "I believe in marriage -- I've been married 40 years. But I also -- we as an institution -- believe very strongly in respecting all individuals."
The future of the Chick-fil-A at U of L will not depend on the number of signatures obtained on the petition, but on a number of other factors including a legal contract the university signed with an outside vendor.
The restaurant remains closed for the summer. Ramsey says there's no decision on whether it will reopen when classes resume, but says "they will always do what's best for our university, what's best for our students, faculty and staff, and what's best for our community."
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
U of L President James Ramsey says he has been married for 40 years.
Over 1,300 people have signed a petition asking the University of Louisville to ban Chick-fil-A from campus.
M.C. Lampe, a senior at U of L, wants to make sure organizations and businesses aren't actively working against the LGBT community.
