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Students present ways to further GLBTQ acceptance

By Tue Tran, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, on February 19, 2010 3:30 AM

By Tue Tran, Editor-in-Chief -

There are many degrees of homophobia. From the flippant usage of “that’s so gay” to injuring someone due to suspicions of him or her having a non-heterosexual orientation. At Boston College, GLBTQ students have expressed concern about the campus climate with regard to issues of sexual identity and the lack of support from the University.

“Being gay isn’t [seen as] commonplace here,” said Larissa Belcic, vice president of the GLC and A&S 2010. “It’s [seen as] something weird.”

The GLTBQ Leadership Council (GLC) has developed ideas that they feel would help Boston College become more inclusive. They believe that the University needs to acknowledge that homophobia is prevalent on campus and to take the issue into BC’s hands.

Currently, a number of campus resources for GLBTQ students are run by students. The GLC fears, however, that this causes inconsistencies from year to year, as programs are dependent on the abilities of student leaders. This is why they emphasize the institutionalization of resources that are currently student-run.

“The administration looks to student leaders [to provide resources to other students],” Belcic said. “Doing this ignores the fact that they are students too and need the same support.”

According to Belcic, this is not a floor plan for the University — it is neither a list of demands nor is it concrete. It is a product of hours spent researching other Jesuit universities and brainstorming ways to improve campus.

“I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to tell the people who run this school what to do,” Belcic said. “But I can tell them what is needed, what can be fixed.”

It all comes down to support for the individual student, said Belcic. It is not about anything that would be deemed to go against Catholic teaching on homosexuality, but rather care of the whole person. It would help combat the marginalization that queer students feel.

“Jesuit universities have the same values, but they seem to be doing a better job upholding those values,” Belcic said.

Institutionalization of Queer Peers:

Queer Peers is a program where students who are dealing with coming out or other sexual identity issues can come have a one-on-one conversation to a GLBTQ peer confidentially.

While this program was officially launched last semester, Queer Peers was run unofficially the year before. If it is institutionalized, it would guarantee that the program continue without hindrance in the future. Currently, the program is being run in the Women’s Resource Center.

Implementation of Safe Spaces programming:

The Safe Spaces program offers resources for students to hold presentations and workshops to open dialogue about sexual orientation. This program could be modeled after a FACES gathering, where the GLC has presented.

Institutionalization of GLBTQ student-faculty mentorship programming:

This program matches GLBTQ faculty with GLBTQ students to foster a closer-knit community between professors and students. Also, students will have the opportunity to gain wisdom from respected BC adults about growing up queer.

Creation of Collaborative Committee on Campus Climate:

This committee would be for the University to research student culture with regard to homophobia and how GLBTQ students experience BC. This would allow administrators to move forward with initiatives concerning queer students.

Statement of public support:

Recently, the president of Fordham University released a statement exhibiting his support for GLBTQ students. The GLC feels as though this would be a way for queer students to feel less marginalized by the establishment.

Availability of literature:

Students come to college for knowledge, and the GLC feels that the availability of pamphlets that would cover coming out issues or other questions that GLBTQ students may have would be beneficial for students struggling with their sexual identity or wanting to understand more about sexual orientation.

Establishment of a GLBTQ Resource Center:

While the Queer Resource Center has become a buzz-phrase, the GLC states that it would simply be a permanent home for those initiatives, rather than the ultimate goal. This will be another way to ensure that there will be consistent availability of resources for students in the future.

Creation of a full-time staff position related to GLBTQ issues:

This person would be responsible for the continuation of GLBTQ support resources for students.

Establishment of a GLBTQ student scholarship fund:

This would allow alumni to donate to this scholarship fund to ensure that queer students have every opportunity to excel in the future.

Creation of a queer studies minor:

This would allow for students to scholarly examine issues that pertain to identity. This also requires that classes in this area be consistently provided, that the availability of those courses are not necessarily based on the professors currently here to teach other courses. As seen in the past, when professors who have taught GLBTQ-related classes leave, with them were their courses.