GLBSU reaches out for support
Campus Times
November 8, 1996
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Union president, junior Shannon Beets
(leaning against wall), junior Rose Newell and sophomore Lisa Manley discuss
topics for last Monday's meeting. Although the GLBSU has been active on
campus for almost two years, student participation is down this year. The
group will sponsor a booth for Homecoming, selling caramel apples and apple
cider. The GLBSU meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in the Minority Resource Center.
The 1996-97 school year marks the second year of existence for the Gay,
Lesbian and Bisexual Student Union (GLBSU) at the University of La Verne,
and the club is experiencing a growth problem, trying to maintain visibility
on campus.
Junior Shannon Beets, president of GLBSU, said, "We haven't lost any
members, besides who graduated. That's a normal turnover."
According to Beets, the numbers in the club have not increased because it
does not have high visibility on campus.
"It's sort of a catch-22," said Beets. "We are a very small
club here on campus, so it's hard to put on the activities we need to make
us visible. But, without those activities we can't get members to get
bigger."
Although GLBSU still feels the support of the staff and faculty, it feels
there is no real support coming from students.
"We have no straight, gay-friendly supporters," said Beets, "because
people are afraid of being labeled. They have to get over the idea that
if you go to a GLBSU function people are going to assume your gay."
"They're so essential to getting the message of awareness out there,"
said Beets. "They can get their foot in the door."
In comparison to last year, GLBSU is not receiving new people because, "the
campus climate is different," said Beets.
What worked for the visibility of the newly founded club last year was Mel
White, a Fasnacht Lecture Series speaker, who discussed being Christian
and gay in America. GLBSU supported the event and members made themselves
visible.
This year, GLBSU is still active in activities in school. Last month, it
attended a retreat sponsored by Harvel Lewis, coordinator of minority student
affairs, about multi-cultural issues, and the club has a booth at Homecoming
this year.
The members are also trying to get a speaker for next semester, and intend
to have a gay film night.
The club, which was started at the end of the Spring 1995 semester, has
been started many times before, but for various reasons including persecution,
and lack of support and members, have closed.
The primary function and main goals of the club is to provide support, and
raise political consciousness at ULV.
"We want to move beyond tolerance where people can respect and commemorate
us as a part of this community," said Beets. "We want to educate
on what it means to be gay in America."
The club plans to continue offering panel discussions by, Parents and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays, a community organization the deals with the pressures
of someone coming out, and their family and friends.
The club meets Mondays, at 6 p.m. in the Minority Resource Center in the
Student Center.