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| LGBT Group Appeals To A.S. Senate For Support | ||||||
| A group of gay and lesbian students urged the A.S. Senate Wednesday to help to provide more support for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center through various means including programs and events. | ||||||
| Brian Stires, press secretary for A.S., said that the center would like A.S.I. to "commit to increase awareness and promote a safe atmosphere on LGBT issues through logistical, political, funding, and administrative support."� Stires also categorized this problem of overlooking LGBT issues as "systemic" and asked that "long term support" from the Senate. | ||||||
| Stires also suggested a "Safe Zone Program," which would entail stickers to be placed on doors of professors who would be open to talk about issues of this nature to LGBT students who may be hesitant or scared to ask for advice. | ||||||
| Emmy Gonzalez, president's chair for LGBT affairs said that when she arrived at this campus from UC Davis, she found herself "in shock because the center here was hidden and run-down."� She also noted that UC Davis has a "fully-functioning LGBT center," with "magazines, books, movies, professional and peer counseling," elements which encouraged her to 'come out.' | ||||||
| Julio Lopez, the program coordinator of the LGBT center, urged the "imperative" nature of having a campus community that promotes a safe atmosphere for LGBT students.� He, along with his constituents from the center, feels that LGBT students are neglected and constitute and "invisible populace of this campus." | ||||||
| Another reason LGBT students are hesitant to 'come out' stems from discrimination not only from the world, but also from the campus community.� Last semester LGBT students posted a flyer in the multicultural center, only to have it vandalized with derogatory epithets and slurs.� Additionally, at a recent LGBT Nugget event, a small group of students made derogatory comments, making some of the attendees feel uncomfortable.� The members from the center spoke of one student who commented to them that because of this incident, she was afraid to even approach the group at the Nugget. | ||||||
| Dr. Jeanne Caveness from Student Life & Development commended the LGBT students for coming in front of the Senate and sharing their stories.� Mike Hostetler, dean of students, expressed his support for the LGBT students and noted "people on this campus do care."� He also quoted Long Beach as being the "second largest gay-bisexual friendly city short of San Francisco," and said in his time here, the center has done a "great job" despite little help from the campus and minute funding. | ||||||
| In other news, David McKay, a mathematics professor, gave a presentation to the Senate on course curriculum policies.� "I just feel that the math textbooks being used today are too large, are too expensive, and cover too much," McKay said.� He also noted that there is a problem with department chairs using syllabi to evaluate teachers during tenure reviews. | ||||||
| Copyright Gerry Wachovsky, 2003, and Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | ||||||
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