Gay Students Discuss Coming out at Notre Dame Campus Environment Challenges Members of LGBTQ Community Who Wish to Publicly Disclose Sexuality
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The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 45: Issue 102 tuesday, march 6, 2012 Ndsmcobserver.com Gay students discuss coming out at Notre Dame Campus environment challenges members of LGBTQ community who wish to publicly disclose sexuality By SAM STRYKER said. “I wanted people to have said after telling her room- News Editor this assumption that clearly, I mates, word “gradually got had been out forever.” out” to the rest of her dorm. Editor’s note: This is the sec- For gay students, college “[My roommates] were per- ond installment in a three-part presents the opportunity to fectly awesome with it,” she series about the experience of start fresh with new friends said. “I didn’t encounter any LGBTQ students at Notre Dame and a new environment. Yet problems with anyone in the in light of recent requests that students said deciding when dorm.” the University grant club sta- to come out can be an intense- However, Lillis did encoun- tus to a gay-straight alliance. ly personal decision that often ter some trials in coming out involves overcoming both in- that she said are unique to the Before coming to Notre ternal and external boundar- campus environment found at Dame, senior Jason G’Sell said ies. Notre Dame. he anticipated the University Sophomore Mia Lillis said “You take on such a big re- would be a place where he she was prepared to be open sponsibility when you come could come to terms with his about her sexual orientation out here. Not that necessarily faith and sexuality, where- before coming to Notre Dame, you are going to receive a lot as in high school, only a few but waited a month into her of discrimination, but you are PAT COVENEY/The Observer friends knew he was gay. freshman year to come out be- taking on the role of educat- Senior Sam Costanzo speaks about coming out as gay during “I wanted to go to college cause of her experience with the second semester of his freshman year at Notre Dame. and be an out person,” he freshman orientation. She see OUT/page 4 Ex-worker Community addresses discrimination By NICOLE MICHELS the span of a week, both or- pleads guilty News Writer ganizations had fried chicken parts placed in their mailbox- Members of the Notre Dame es in the LaFortune Student Observer Staff Report community met in a town hall Center. meeting to discuss recent in- Student body president Pat A former University em- cidents of racial harassment McCormick said the goal of ployee in Notre Dame’s Office and to collaboratively address this meeting was to respond of the Registrar pled guilty to the need to foster a more in- to the incidents and improve four counts of voyeurism last clusive University community the spirit of inclusion and week in the St. Joseph County Monday night. community on campus. Superior Court. “A Call to Action in Regards “This is an opportunity for Don G. Steinke was origi- to the Discriminatory Inci- the community to stand in nally charged with one count dent” came about after the ra- solidarity, [an opportunity] to of voyeurism, but the State cial harassment of two minor- look forward and not just to of Indiana added three more ity student groups on campus, heal, but to effectively expand counts on Feb. 28, according the Black Student Association inclusion in the Notre Dame to court documents. (BSA) and the African Stu- family more fully,” McCor- The state agreed not to file dents Association (ASA). The mick said. ASHLEY DACY/The Observer student body was informed in ASA vice president Chris Moore, BSA chair Brittany Suggs and student see VOYEURISM/page 5 a Feb. 24 email that within see MEETING/page 5 body president Pat McCormick participate in the town hall meeting. KPMG executive reflects on ND, career Saint Mary’s By MARISA IATI give me a lot of opportunities short-term goals. better find something else to do News Writer to be exposed to a whole host of “Every time I came to that because you spend too much announces things that would help me de- decision, I clearly decided that time in your career to not re- When he received a degree in cide what I did want to do,” Vei- the path I was on [at KPMG] ally love what it is you’re doing. accounting from Notre Dame in hmeyer said. “The important was going to advance my ca- But … I think that’s a journey, 1977, John Veihmeyer, chair- thing is joining a firm that’s reer faster and further,” he not an overnight decision.” speaker man and chief executive officer going to be open to challenging said. “I think everybody’s ca- Young professionals should of KPMG LLP, did not antici- you in different ways.” reer is a winding road … I take responsibility for man- pate being Veihmeyer visited campus think your best decisions are aging their careers without Observer Staff Report an accoun- Monday to speak about careers decisions that are made with a trying to predict every step tant his en- in public accounting and the three to five year horizon, not along the way, Veihmeyer said. Businesswoman Mellody tire career. world marketplace. He met with a 12-month horizon.” Additionally, they should col- Hobson will deliver the 2012 Thirty-five with several faculty members, Veihmeyer said people laborate with other people, Commencement address and years later, as well as current students should seek enjoyable careers seek out mentors and develop receive an honorary doctor of he’s still in who will work at branches of by eliminating options that do global perspectives by study- humanities degree from Saint the busi- the Big Four accounting firm not interest them. ing abroad or interacting with Mary’s, the College announced ness. this summer. “What I love to see people students from other countries. Monday. Literacy advocate “I had Veihmeyer said he makes do is join organizations that Veihmeyer said his Notre and businesswoman Kathleen been con- Veihmeyer career decisions by predicting are going to give them that op- Dame experience taught him Flynn Fox, a 1974 Saint Mary’s vinced that where he will be in five years portunity to explore a little bit, how to succeed in business alumna, will also be awarded joining a if he chooses a given option, see what they like,” Veihmeyer firm like KPMG was going to rather than solely considering said. “If you don’t enjoy it, you’d see KPMG/page 5 see SPEAKER/page 5 INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER Leaders discuss CrimeReport page 3 u Viewpoint page 6 u Commencement speakers page 8 u Women’s basketball advances to championship page 16 page 2 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u DAY-TO-DAY Tuesday, March 6, 2012 QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR SPRING BREAK? www.ndsmcobserver.com P.O. 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