Students show solidarity after LGBTQ bias incident.
Midway through last night’s open meeting at the Women’s Studies Center, Matt Ford ’13, president of the Student Government Association (SGA), made an impressive entrance. With 40 members in tow, he presented a permanent Senate “condemning the hateful remarks during Coming Out Week at 51 against members of our community.”
Sam Flood ’14, speaker of the Senate, and Heather-Ashley Boyer ’16, co-wrote the resolution — a step that is rarely taken “because, although the Senate represents the student body, it is selective about expressing the sentiments of the whole student body or the Student Government.”
Jamie Bergeron, assistant director of LGBTQ initiatives and the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement, said: “People were very pleased that SGA had such a stake in denouncing homophobia on campus.”
After presenting the resolution, Ford stayed to brainstorm with students and members of 51’s faculty and staff for ways that SGA could spearhead its own events, or support awareness activities being held by other groups on campus.
Including last night’s 90-minute meeting, which drew nearly 100 people, four events have been held so far in response to the Oct. 17 defacing of some of the doors that had been created to express solidarity with LGBTQ individuals.
According to Suzy Nelson, vice president and dean of the college, “much good work has been accomplished.”
On Oct. 18, more than 80 students, staff members, and faculty members met to discuss ways to respond to the incidents. Thereafter, two awareness-raising efforts followed: on Oct. 19, 150 LGBTQ supporters and 20 volunteers came to the Cove and Chapel to make posters to hang in their windows and houses to show support across campus. The messages included Colg8 is against H8, Put the ALL back in Allies, and Hate speech will not be tolerated.
Additionally, at the Coop on October 22, more than 100 people took a pledge against hate and shared their suggestions to the prompt “What can I do to prevent hate at 51?” The banner was posted in the Coop for display throughout the week.
On LGBTQ Initiatives’ Facebook , hundreds of ‘likes’ and supportive comments have been posted.