To some questions, there are no clear answers.

Though Spectrum, Elon University’s queer-straight alliance, and the Diversity Emerging Education Program (D.E.E.P) partnered Sept. 24 to host an open dialogue about Chick-fil-A’s presence on campus, the effort yielded no definite conclusions.

Last week, Spectrum suspended its resolution to sever Elon’s relationship with the franchise after Chick-fil-A allegedly declared its intention to cease its donations to anti-gay organizations. But the announcement turned out to be false, according to Emily Kane, an advocacy and education chair for Spectrum.

Kane said the organization might renew its resolution, which prompts the need for campus-wide discussion of the issues surrounding Chick-fil-A.

D.E.E.P and Spectrum organized the first forum to address the controversy head-on, and students on both sides of the argument appeared to state their cases.

Senior Candice Blacknall agreed with Spectrum’s belief that Chick-fil-A’s presence on campus contradicts the university’s focus on diversity, outlined in the Elon Commitment.

“With the university in mind, there are the mission statements that we put out to the community, and the university has been very clear that diversity is our biggest priority at this time,” she said. “We need to adhere to that mission statement. We don’t want to project one thing out to the community and then support another thing internally. If we’re not able to stand on one side or the other, we can never project anything to the outside.”

But sophomore Nikki Payne asserted Chick-fil-A isn’t the only Elon-supported business that conducts unethical business practices. She cited clothing companies that employ child labor overseas.

Laura Lee Sturm, vice president of Spectrum, said the difference lies in proximity and relevance.

“There are students on the campus that feel scared when they see people walking around with waffle fries,” she said. “If someone feels unsafe, or if someone feels like they’re getting attacked, I don’t see how you can justify supporting that.”

But some students continued to compare Chick-fil-A to companies that own sweatshops and exploit foreign laborers. Payne questioned why Chick-fil-A could be considered more discriminatory than a store like Forever 21, where many young adults shop, or companies that sell items through the campus bookstore.

Paul Geis, associate director of study abroad, seemed unmoved by the comparison.

“What I find to be shameful is we have all this sympathy and oneness with unknown people around the world, but you have gay and lesbian people on this campus who have suffered discrimination and violence and hatred,” he said. “They suffer pain every time they see one of their classmates patronize this establishment. I’m amazed people can go to battle for people around the world, but this is in your backyard.”

Lauren Clapp, an advocacy and education chair for Spectrum, said she thinks having a Chick-fil-A on campus marginalizes Elon’s LGBTQ community.

“We’ve been saying Chick-fil-A is anti-gay, but if there was an organization that actively supported discriminatory actions against another minority group, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation,” she said. “Let’s face it: In 2012, it’s still OK to be homophobic, or on the fence about it.”

For Angel Garcia, assistant director of the multicultural center, this phobia is a reason to remove Chick-fil-A, and with it, the strain it places on the LGBTQ community. He said it’s only a matter of time before another minority’s struggle against discrimination and oppression is played out in the media spotlight.

But Payne said she doesn’t think Chick-fil-A should be penalized for contributing to causes it believes in.

“I don’t believe Chick-fil-A feels like they’re doing anything wrong,” she said.

She did, however, concede the issue must be put to vote after more information is provided to the student body.

Elizabeth Nelson, associate director for health promotion, said uninformed community members must take the initiative to educate themselves. She challenged students to learn more than sound bites and general statements surrounding the issue.

“The burden to dig deeper should fall on the shoulders of those who aren’t being hurt by these things,” Nelson said.