TCU. EC?

Whether you know it or not, many of your classmates are gay. Here’s an article from the student newspaper of TCU — Texas Christian University — in Fort Worth, Texas. After you read the article, answer this question: should Erskine follow TCU’s lead and create a campus Gay-Straight Alliance or LGBT organization? 

SGA approves support for campus LGBT community

Eric Anderson

Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: News

The Student Government Association House of Student Representatives unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday to support a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender resource center on campus.  

Su Harz, a junior social work major who introduced the resolution to the House, said the purpose of the resolution is to show that LGBT students have the support of SGA in seeking needed resources. Groups like the Gay-Straight Alliance for LGBT students already exist at the university, but the GSA excludes faculty and staff, she said. The proposed center would serve the entire LGBT community on campus.

"Our ultimate goal is that at some point in the future there will be a resource center on campus," Harz said. "As a stepping stone, we would like to at least have someone who is trained in LGBT issues in the office of Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services."

Shelly Newkirk, a sophomore social work major, authored the resolution in order to gauge the support of the student body.

"With the support of SGA we can show the administration that this is a campuswide issue," Newkirk said.

Newkirk and Harz co-founded the Iris Initiative, an effort geared toward raising awareness of LGBT issues on campus.

 Student Body Vice President Matt Dietrichson said the university needs a centralized organization where students who feel like outsiders can seek needed resources.

"A resource center like this is long overdue," Dietrichson said.

Student Body President Kelsie Johnson declined to comment on the resolution and referred questions to the legislation's authors.

Candace Ruocco, Academic Affairs chair, said SGA members were excited that LGBT students were seeking their help.

"Every student at TCU, no matter what his or her circumstances are, deserves to be accommodated and feel comfortable, or at the very least to have some type of outlet, or place where they can go to feel comfortable," Ruocco said.

Haley Murphy, Speaker of the Student House of Representatives, said SGA support allows the LGBT community to use the House committees as a sounding board to the administration and serve as the voice of the student body.

Ruocco said SGA wants to help all groups on campus to improve their college experience.

"We hope that the LGBT community and SGA can come together and create a framework to get students, faculty and staff the resources that they need," Ruocco s

The Student Government Association House of Student Representatives unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday to support a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender resource center on campus.

Su Harz, a junior social work major who introduced the resolution to the House, said the purpose of the resolution is to show that LGBT students have the support of SGA in seeking needed resources. Groups like the Gay-Straight Alliance for LGBT students already exist at the university, but the GSA excludes faculty and staff, she said. The proposed center would serve the entire LGBT community on campus.

"Our ultimate goal is that at some point in the future there will be a resource center on campus," Harz said. "As a stepping stone, we would like to at least have someone who is trained in LGBT issues in the office of Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services."

Shelly Newkirk, a sophomore social work major, authored the resolution in order to gauge the support of the student body.

"With the support of SGA we can show the administration that this is a campuswide issue," Newkirk said.

Newkirk and Harz co-founded the Iris Initiative, an effort geared toward raising awareness of LGBT issues on campus.

Student Body Vice President Matt Dietrichson said the university needs a centralized organization where students who feel like outsiders can seek needed resources.

"A resource center like this is long overdue," Dietrichson said.

Student Body President Kelsie Johnson declined to comment on the resolution and referred questions to the legislation's authors.

Candace Ruocco, Academic Affairs chair, said SGA members were excited that LGBT students were seeking their help.

"Every student at TCU, no matter what his or her circumstances are, deserves to be accommodated and feel comfortable, or at the very least to have some type of outlet, or place where they can go to feel comfortable," Ruocco said.

Haley Murphy, Speaker of the Student House of Representatives, said SGA support allows the LGBT community to use the House committees as a sounding board to the administration and serve as the voice of the student body.

Ruocco said SGA wants to help all groups on campus to improve their college experience.

"We hope that the LGBT community and SGA can come together and create a framework to get students, faculty and staff the resources that they need," Ruocco said

Comments

[Brandon]

To answer the question yes I think Erskine should have a LGBT organization. The SGA stands for student government association, not SGA for only straight students. Like Ruocco said, "Every student at TCU, no matter what his or her circumstances are, deserves to be accommodated and feel comfortable, or at the very least to have some type of outlet,..." I think everyone should get the same opportunities no matter what. I think the SGA at TCU did a great thing to try and bring their student body together. This is a tough subject to deal with especially on a christian campus and this type of organization just makes life for all the students easier. The LGBT students don't have to feel uncomfortable and they have somewhere to talk about issues. Those straight students can learn more about the LGBT students and be educated about them. I think this type of organization is a great idea. It is nice to see everyone being stood up for on a christian campus.

[Sarah Thullbery]

I think that Erskine should have a LGBT organization or a Gay-Straight Alliance on campus. Even though an organization of this sort should exist at Erskine, sadly, I would worry about the safety - particularly the emotional wellbeing - of students who were part of meetings or went to a resource center like the one proposed at TCU. I hate to say it, but I think that some students here would harass and spread more rumors about those involved in these organizations. Even so, I agree with Brandon. It is great to read about how the Student Government Association at TCU is willing and open-minded enough to work with all of the students. This is a very politically and emotionally charged issue and I appreciate these students who are standing up for what they think is right.

[kmcnutt]

I think Erskine should have an LGBT organization, or some sort of public support for students on campus. Even though this college is a "Christian" college, not everyone practices Christianity, just like not everyone is heterosexual. This is a college. An institute for education. Whether one is gay, straight, bi-sexual, atheist, christian or anything else should not hinder their acceptance or education.
Even though I think this is something Erskine should support and found, I have doubts it would happen. if a website like S.A.F.E caused so much commotion and uproar, I can only imagine what LGBT would do. They may shut Erskine down. Hopefully with more people coming forth and realizing what more they can do as, and for a school, something like what TCU has done will happen here.
Brandon makes a very excellent point as well, SGA is not only for straight students, but all students. I think this is a fact and thought that many students on this campus right now need to understand. Diversity is healthy and needed, and very plentiful in this world. If one can not handle it in a small, private setting, how will they face reality?

[Morgan]

I don't know if Erskine should have a LGBT organization. Even though I'm sure that there are gay or lesbians but we are still a small school and I'm not sure if the organization would be as successful as it is at a bigger school like TCU. Plus, Erskine is a Christian college. And even though the gay-lesbian issue should be viewed "Christian-like" with understanding and compassion rather than denial and hatred, I think that Erskine would never have this type of program just because gays and lesbians have traditionally been seen as an abomination. I'm not saying that I don't think it would be a good idea to have this type of organization, I'm just saying that I don't think it would ever happen.

[mgn]

I also think that Erskine should have a LGBT organization. As Ruocco states throughout the entire article that all groups need to be designed in order for all students to enjoy their college experience. Would LGBT organization be successful at Erskine? I really don’t know, on the one hand I believe that what Sarah said about tormenting occurring to those involved, yet at the same I feel that some of the students at Erskine would be accept and respect those involved in that organization.
More schools should be willing to allow their students to have the ability to be themselves without having to fear about the consequences of how others will think about or treat them. Like a wise man once said “All I can do is be me, whoever that is” (B. Dylan). If schools could see life in that form of accepting that people can only be who they are then society would never reject anyone for being different.

[quicktype89]

Before Erskine can take on a LGBT organization there must be a different focus on the meaning of Christian brotherhood on campus. The S.A.F.E. organization claims that Erskine holds a "culture of intimidation" on it's campus. What they don't say is that that intimidation is caused by them and those who support their efforts. Like Dr. Chrenshaw mentioned, there are a good many gay students, but they are afraid of the consequences and their safety because of this "culture of intimidation" brought about by the SAFE group in conjunction with several ARP ministers, so they will rarely look for help because of the fear of judgement. JUDGEMENT, something that Christians are not entitled to, but rather God alone.
Before a LGBT organization can be successfully formed, Erskine is going to have to trade this intimidation factor brought about by the preachings of SAFE for a more loving, kind, caring environment. A more Christian environment that accepts the fact that there are all types of Christian people and all of those types must be accepted, if we are to continue teaching liberal arts under a Christian faith.
Until the voices of students of toleration and kindness are heard there will be no change in the minds of Erskine's adult leaders and we will continue in a dwindling path towards close-minded and misinformed teaching of the Christian faith as a faith of judgement. A LGBT program will not be fathomable.
Hopefully there will be such a positive change at Erskine that keeps with a Liberal Arts education and one day we will see the formation of a LGBT group, or at least the acceptance of gays and lesbians in their time of need.

[JohnEvans]

To answer the question directly, I don't really care. Its not something that will effect me greatly either way. If some students wanted to from such a group, I will passively support them. That is, I would oppose and argue with any one who oppose the group's formation, especailly for "Christian reasons," however I wouldn't go out of my way to find such fights or support them. If any of my close friends were among those to from the group I would probably take a greater role to actively protect them. Also if the opposition got annoying enough, like SAFE, I would start to oppose them just to end the ignorance. Even coming from a belief that cardinal homosexual relations are wrong, they are not more wrong then telling a lie. There is also nothing wrong with being tempted with this sin and openly admitting it. The people who would oppose a gay group would also have to oppose an AA group or and anger management group, even by there own logic.

[cdavis17]

I think that a LGBT organization would be a good thing for Erskine students to have, that are "needing a resource" like that. I don't know whether Erskine and the officials and what they are "founded" on would vote for such a thing. But there are LGBT people that go here, and just because they are that way does not mean that they shouldn't get an organization where they can feel comfortable and express themselves with people who are going throught the same things and feel the same way about certain things. I'm just not sure how Erskine would deal with a group like this...not the students, but the faculty and staff. So maybe they should be confronted with this situation to see what they would say about it.

[David Cook]

If I am being honest with myself, I honestly do not really care one way or the other. While it would definitely be a very prudent idea to have an organization like this set up to aid those that might be struggling, I am not sure about whether or not it would succeed on Erskine's campus. I know for a fact there would be a large voice of opposition to that sort of an organization. We live in prime Bible country with the "Good Ole Boys" and I doubt that they would allow such an "abomination" to come to campus.