As a matter of editorial practice, Reminder Publishing does not issue endorsements of candidates for any race. The race for the 1st Congressional District seat is no different. I gave serious thought as to whether or not I should even write this column, given the fact that the primary is just days away. It is not my or this company’s intent to attempt to sway voters; it’s just not what we do.

But the recent allegations leveled against Holyoke Mayor and Congressional candidate Alex Morse and the subsequent conversations have revealed some sentiments that I find troubling and feel compelled to address.

First of all, let’s get some things squared away right off the bat. I will acknowledge my privilege as a man whose sexual orientation has never been the subject of widespread discrimination. I don’t presume to know or understand the mental or emotional impacts experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community in a society that is very often less than inclusive. I also don’t know Alex Morse. Outside of speaking with him a handful of times throughout my journalistic career here in Western Massachusetts, I haven’t had any interactions with the man.

What I do know is what Alex Morse has been accused of and I know how he has responded. No, Morse has not denied the accusations. However, what troubles me most is that while he has essentially confirmed the College Democrats of Massachusetts’ allegations, he has not accepted fault, nor has he acknowledged the wrongfulness of his actions or their potential harm. Instead, Morse has engaged in a defensive stance that in many ways has struck me as Trumpian as he has tried to deflect, minimize the issue, deny or reassign blame, and discredit his accusers, even attempting to feign injury from the allegations and evoke moral superiority.

Morse’s repeated insistence that all of his relationships with adult students at the University of Massachusetts were consensual is an attempt to deviate focus from the crux of the issue. The problem with what Morse has been accused of is the simple fact that his status member of the university’s faculty places him in a position of influence over students, even ones who were not directly instructed by him in the classroom. Morse maintains he never used his position to influence a student, but the question of whether this was done in an overt fashion is irrelevant. People in positions of power engaging in sexual relationships with those without like power – whether it be in the workplace, a school or any similar situation – carries with it dynamics that impose dominance and influence. While I am not familiar with UMass policies nor am I an expert on Title IX issues, this at best feels like a break in the trust expected in an educator/student relationship and an ethical violation.  

Morse has also suggested that his actions and the allegations related to them have been more greatly scrutinized due to his sexual orientation. But the fact that Morse was pursuing young men as opposed to young women is also not relevant. If, for example, a 31-year-old male instructor were to send unsolicited messages – “sliding into their DMs” as the young kids say these days – and attempt to engage in sexual relationships with students, let alone actually have such a relationship, the behavior would absolutely rightfully be considered a gross overstep and abuse of position. This kind of predatory behavior has been a focus on the #MeToo movement for some time and college campuses nationwide have been active in protecting their student populations.

Morse and supporters have additionally sought to discredit those who have accused him and, frankly, some of the questions being raised on Morse’s behalf make me extremely uncomfortable. Phrases like “where’s the proof?” or “why didn’t these complaints come out until now?” or “what’s the motivation for this?” or “if there are victims, why aren’t they talking themselves?” all certainly feel a lot like victim-blaming or putting them on trial.

Nevertheless, there has been an onslaught of questioning regarding the timing of the release of this information to the Daily Collegian as well as links to donations between Richard Neal to the College Democrats of Massachusetts, essentially suggesting Morse is the victim of a quid pro quo arrangement to undermine his bid for Neal’s long-held seat. The campaign also sent to media outlets reports from the news website The Intercept that detailed a plot by the College Democrats’ leadership to discredit Morse with the information as well as attempt to entrap him with the intent of gaining employment from Neal.

Was the timing of the leak coincidence? Of course not. Was it intentional in order to damage Morse’s credibility in the weeks leading up to the election and impact its results? Absolutely. Did the “masterminds” of the scheme have ulterior personal motives? It appears they may have.

However, none of that actually matters. What matters is it happened. Morse hasn’t denied it. Along with that, there is culpability and, by extension, consequences. But rather than accept those, it appears Morse wants to attempt to deflect and distract people from the allegations he has already copped to and go after the whistleblowers and critics, claiming political bias and/or homophobia. When a Reminder Publishing reporter recently asked how he would respond to those concerned with his decision-making, Morse deflected the question, instead blaming the scandal on the overpolicing of gay sex lives.

Further, Morse’s outrage about dredging up dirt on the questionable activities of opponents is almost laughable, given the fact that two of his successful mayoral reelection bids at least someone benefitted from allegations of his challengers’ impropriety. He was the beneficiary of the Holyoke-based blog H.U.S.H. (Holyoke Underground Social Humorists) digging up court documents alleging then-mayoral hopeful Jeff Stanek was among the officials of Advancetel Direct LLC who were unsuccessfully accused of fraud in a Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case in a U.S. District Court in Maine. Another opponent, Fran O’Connell, was accused by a former staff member of making comments of a sexual nature about the appearance of a then-city employee and friend of Morse. Like Neal has with the current issue, Morse, for the most part, stayed the course with his campaigns as an incumbent and left the challengers to speak to the accusations.

There is no denying Morse’s progressive platform is extremely appealing to a growing population in the district. Many of his messages are similar to those voiced by Neal’s previous opponent, Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, but with Morse’s political cache, they have more greatly resonated through communities. Meanwhile, Neal has had his share of detractors for various perceived failures or shortcomings, whether it be the execution of Paycheck Protection Program and continued stimulus for families and businesses in the wake of COVID-19, his stance on Medicare for All, or the pursuit of Donald Trump’s tax returns, among others. So it’s clear why Morse wants to “campaign on the issues.”

But what that really means is Morse wants us to ignore actual, admitted incidences of improper use of power. And if we do look at them, he wants us to pay more attention to the potential motives of the accusers than the wrongdoing itself. Each person will have the opportunity to decide if that is something they are willing to accept. And for many, it’s clear it is as Morse enjoyed the biggest fundraising week of his campaign as well as enlisting nearly 450 new volunteers.

For myself, however, it’s a big ask and not one I’m particularly comfortable with.