Date: Thu, 2 Feb 95 11:19:27 CST From: Robert Dailey January 30, 1995 CONTACT: John Blandford 219.232.6332 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTRE DAME MOVES TO BAR GAY GROUP NOTRE DAME, IN -- University of Notre Dame officials have acted to bar further activities of a lesbian and gay student group here. Leaders of Gays and Lesbians of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College (GLND/SMC) were informed in a January 23rd meeting that the group would be denied access to the one room on campus that had been open to its use. John Blandford and Kelly Smith, co-chairs of GLND/SMC were instructed by Rev. Peter Rocca, assistant vice president for student affairs, that effective immediately the student-run, volunteer organization would be barred from gathering in the University Counseling Center. Blandford and Smith were informed that the university action was prompted by the group's decision last semester to advertise the location of the meetings. Student leaders were stunned by the news. Said Co-Chair Smith, "GLND/SMC is the only organization at either school that has been actively addressing the needs of our community." Blandford interprets the university's action as a response to the group's growing visibility at Notre Dame: "We always hear of the 'Notre Dame family' but too often find ourselves as gays and lesbians being treated as unwanted relatives relegated to the cellar. GLND/SMC has worked hard this year to demonstrate how integral we are to the life of this academic community." Notre Dame's action coincides with a planned appearance by openly gay New Republic magazine editor Andrew Sullivan. Sullivan is scheduled to give a major address at Notre Dame this Thursday (Feb. 2) on "The Gay Catholic Paradox." Sullivan's appearance at Notre Dame was arranged by GLND/SMC. Though prevented by university policy from explicit sponsorship lectures or other events, GLND/SMC has successfully worked with academic departments and recognized campus organizations to invite prominent speakers to address issues surrounding sexual orientation. Commented Blandford, "Policy prevents us from taking any official credit for sponsoring lectures, but the university community is well aware of our central role in bringing Sullivan to Notre Dame." Last semester, the group was responsible for organizing the visits of two nationally known speakers. In September of last year, GLND/SMC brought to Notre Dame Ron Nyswaner, screenwriter of the Academy Award-winning Philadelphia, attempting to raise the campus' awareness about HIV and AIDS. In December, GLND/SMC arranged for the visit of civil rights attorney Peter Cicchino to speak on constitutional issues surrounding matters of sexual orientation. Asked about the likely effect of the university's attempt to further limit GLND/SMC's functioning at Notre Dame, Co-Chair Smith focused on the impact on lesbian, gay and bisexual students: "Gays and lesbians are a very underserved part of the Notre Dame/St. Mary's community. A diminished presence by GLND/SMC will have a big impact on those we serve." She added, "We were told at the meeting that the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Ministry were planning to meet our needs. Given their long history on these issues and their unwillingness to hear our concerns, it is hard to believe that they could respond in any way that could be considered appropriate or sensitive." Added Blandford, "The Office of Student Affairs has had ten years to define policy and offer services to lesbians and gays here, but instead they walked away. I have to believe that present expressions of their concern for our well-being may be somewhat disingenuous." Gays and lesbians held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to discuss responses to the university's actions. Said Smith, "There was a lot of hurt, some anger, and a real sense of betrayal felt by the group toward the university. We will do our best to channel that energy into positive efforts to reveal the real extent of the support that exists for lesbians and gays on this campus. Of course, the support comes from those outside the Dome," a reference to the golden dome that tops Notre Dame's Administration Building. GLND/SMC intends to appeal for support from the Faculty Senate, undergraduate Student Senate, and Graduate Student Council. Blandford: "We have already spoken to representatives from each of these bodies, and there seems a broad sense of outrage at the administration's action." In the meantime, GLND/SMC officers are searching for safe space to house the confidential support groups, and the group intends to take its other meetings to more public settings. Said Blandford, "Perhaps ND is unintentionally helping us by forcing GLND/SMC further out of the university's closet." Notre Dame's decision to oust the gay and lesbian group from campus comes just as GLND/SMC has learned that its work has earned it a foundation grant. During the holiday break, GLND/SMC was informed that it had been awarded a $2,000 grant from the Chicago Resource Center, a national grant-making foundation that supports the efforts of small- and medium-sized gay and lesbian groups. The grant is intended to partially support the general operations of the group during 1995. Other financial support for the group has come alumni contributions and nominal member dues. Said Blandford, "It is a bit ironic that while GLND/SMC's work is being recognized as important by philanthropic foundations, Notre Dame wants to punish us for the very same activities." In addition to their roles as officers of GLND/SMC, Smith and Blandford are students. Smith is an undergraduate majoring in biology who will receive her degree from St. Mary's College. Blandford is currently a graduate student in the Department of Economics at the University of Notre Dame. He is also an alumnus of the university, having previously earned a bachelor's degree in Theology from the institution. Background GLND/SMC was founded in 1984 by a group of lesbian, gay and bisexual students, faculty and staff from Notre Dame and St. Mary's College. In 1985, the group sought to register as a campus group, but the group's application was rejected by administration officials. Without recognition, groups are not entitled to use university facilities, sponsor speakers, post notices or place ads in their name in the student paper. Since 1986, however, the group has been allowed access to one room in the University Counseling Center. This policy had its basis in a 1986 to GLND/SMC from then-Vice President for Student Affairs David Tyson rejecting the group's appeal of the university's decision to deny recognition: "The needs of homosexual students, and the informational and educational needs of heterosexual students concerning the issue of homosexuality can be met through the formal mechanisms of University Ministry and the University Counseling Center." Following the 1986 decision, the Counseling Center allowed students to meet in its facility. Last week's decision by Notre Dame officials effectively ends a nine-year relationship between GLND/SMC and the Center. Co-Chair Kelly Smith commented, "Being told that the place for lesbians and gays was in the Counseling Center was an intended slap in the face, but in fact the Center's staff has been quite sensitive to our needs and seemed supportive of the group." GLND/SMC's attempts to foster relations with the Office of Campus Ministry have proven much less successful. Said Smith, "Previous co-chairs of GLND/SMC tried over and over again to work with Campus Ministry, but it became futile." The most recent attempt to establish an outreach through Campus Ministry for gay and lesbian students was rejected by the university in the spring of 1993. Since its birth in 1984, GLND/SMC has grown in size and in the scope of services offered to the Notre Dame and St. Mary's community. Prior to last week's decision, GLND/SMC sponsored a bi-weekly support group for students just coming to terms with their sexual orientation. A parallel group was started last semester on the St. Mary's campus. In addition to the support groups, GLND/SMC has sought to meet gay and lesbian students' needs for appropriate social opportunities, provide forums to discuss the difficulties of integrating affectional orientation and faith, and educate its members about HIV and AIDS. -- Robert F. Dailey St. Edward's University, #892 rdailey@acad.stedwards.edu 3001 S. Congress Ave. (512) 448-8704 (voice) Austin, TX 78704-6489 (512) 448-8492 (fax) U.S.A. -- Robert F. Dailey St. Edward's University, #892 rdailey@acad.stedwards.edu 3001 S. Congress Ave. (512) 448-8704 (voice) Austin, TX 78704-6489 (512) 448-8492 (fax) U.S.A.