Lgbts Confront Persecution
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Volume 85 - Issue 10 November 16, 2012 LGBTs confront persecution Airband to Campus group offers support to LGBT students take the place BY TYLER LEHMANN of NBDC FEATURES CO-EDITOR BY GILLIAN ANDERSON Recalling dirty looks on campus and A once-popular Northwestern event, harassment in dorms, Northwestern Airband, will be introduced to a new College’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and generation of students. transgender students said they are Airband is a competition in which “persecuted” at the school. In response, groups create a lip-syncing performance NW’s unofficial student-run LGBT to a song or mix of songs. advocacy group has expanded its efforts “It is lip syncing but not the band to raise awareness of perceived LGBT type of lip syncing,” said Aaron discrimination on campus. Beadner, director of student programs. “Everyone should have a place where Most students were still in high they feel safe and free to be who they school when Airband last took place are and not feel judged or persecuted, and on campus four years ago. Some we want to be that for anyone who needs former students who remember it us,” said senior Keely Wright, executive are now working for NW, and a few administrator of LEAP, an organization current students have heard about it for LGBT-affirming students that is from recent graduates. unaffiliated with NW. “I remember Airband as a student,” Taking its name from the acronym said Drew Schmidt who graduated “Love, Education, Acceptance, Pride,” from NW in 2005 and is now the the group clashes with NW’s official audiovisual technician at NW. “I position that homosexuality is immoral did not participate, but that was on religious grounds. It’s a view the probably a good thing. I thought college holds as part of its affiliation with it was supposed to be just a band the Reformed Church in America. with air guitars, air drums and, Although NW denounces homosexual PHOTO BY TYLER LEHMANN most boring, air keys. Quite the relationships, the administration does Senior Keely Wright and sophomore Isaac “Fargo” Gross are members of LEAP, an unofficial campus contrary—it was acts choreographed acknowledge homosexuality as a genuine group dedicated to supporting LGBT students and raising awareness of LGBT issues. to music in clever ways.” sexual identity. has unintentionally bolstered negative his freshman year. Airband will be replacing popular “We affirm gay and lesbian students’ treatment of LGBT students on campus. “[Living in the closet] was really NW event NBDC (Northwestern’s Best understandings of who they are and how Sophomore Isaac “Fargo” Gross, a gay constricting,” Gross said. “It was very Dance Crew). they identify themselves, but we don’t student and LEAP member, said he wearing emotionally. I would say that was “We looked at NBDC and felt like affirm expression of that in a relationship,” experienced harassment on campus the worst part. I was emotionally drained there was already Rush and that it said Dean of Students John Brogan. because of his sexuality. all the time.” was not going to be something different “The question becomes, can we still be “If your goal is to convince people that Although coming out gave Gross inner or unique,” Beadner said. a welcoming, supportive community you’re right, hating them is not going to relief, it also brought him new troubles. Airband is designed to be something without taking that final step of affirming do anything,” Gross said. “Christians get When news of his sexuality spread, Gross that anyone can participate in whether or gay and lesbian students’ sexual desires?” persecuted all the time, so why would you faced exclusion and harassment. Gross not they are good at performing. Brogan said the policy is intended to do that to another group of people?” said he was the target of indirect verbal “This event is different because it is provide a safe environment for LGBT abuse from other students in his dorm. open for everyone,” said sophomore students while also satisfying the college’s COMING OUT EXPERIENCES AT NW “Not only as a Christian but just as a Arynn Mazino, an SAC memeber who generally conservative constituents. Gross first experienced rejection at human being, to stand by and let others is in charge of the event. “If you are LEAP members, on the other hand, NW for his sexuality when he came out in treat people that way, that’s never OK,” good at dancing you do rush or NBDC said they believe the school’s stance January after hiding it the first semester of See “LGBT” on Page 4 See “Airband” on Page 8 Students make plans to shop through the holidays BY HEIDI GRITTERS family, who in turn pay them for their time Best Buy puts on a show while their “I just think it’s a disgusting display Black Friday has become a major part in line. customers wait, complete with a TV truck, a of American consumerism,” junior Katie of the Thanksgiving holiday. For some, Last year, with their coupons and contest and free cheesecake. Krebs said. “Americans are really good shopping for deals at midnight is a beloved earnings, they got a $200 widescreen TV “We sit out all night, so you have to make at turning holidays into something full of tradition; for others, it is a sad picture of for free. In the midst of the fun, they keep friends with the people around you and greed and possessions. We’re supposed American materialism. the spirit of Thanksgiving in mind by entertain each other,” Adam said. to be thankful for all we have, but people Senior Adam “Pots” and freshman Josh rotating who gets to go home and eat One year, the brothers were interviewed kill themselves to buy a big screen TV.” “Pans” Potter celebrate Black Friday with a with their families in the evening. by a reporter and joked that they were there The Potter brothers experienced this tradition of their own. Black Friday isn’t just about good deals, to buy their dad a Shake Weight, an item Best violence last year while they were standing These Chicago residents begin waiting though. For many, the experience is every Buy does not actually sell. in line, when a group of people wearing in line at Best Buy as early as 3 p.m. on bit as important. However, there are some NW students masks ran over their beanbag game with a Thanksgiving in hopes of getting the first- “The best part is sitting in line,” said junior who do not enjoy the Black Friday madness come, first-serve deals for their friends and Ethan Raysby. as much as the brothers. See “Black Friday” on Page 5 2 How early is too early for Christmas music? BY KARA NONNEMACHER is here,” Scharn said. Christmas music and listen will soon spread through Wi t h T h a n k s g i v i n g She has a point — just to it year-round,” Rensink every dorm and building right around the corner and how many versions of said. “It is simply the most on campus. If you’re Christmas break following “Silent Night” or “Rockin’ wonderful time of the year, like Rensink, you’ll have shortly, students and Around the Christmas and who wouldn’t want to your Christmas Pandora faculty should be prepared Tree” can cycle through be reminded of that?” station playing all day. for the carols to burst forth. the local radio station in Director of Academic This way, she gets her With decorations already a day? Support Tom Truesdell has preference of “a good up, the debate begins: when “Sometimes the variety similar opinions to Scharn mix” of tunes. should the Holy Nights in versions is nice, but a but is open to being flexible Campus can also look and Santa Claus melodies lot of them are annoying as to when Christmas music forward to the first day swirl through the air on the because they just don’t can be played. that Zwemer Hall plays cheery Christmas winds. sound good,” Scharn said. “Normally, I would music from the bell tower Faculty and students remain If you choose to listen say wait until after to spread the cheer. divided on the topic. to Christmas tunes before Thanksgiving, but my And the ever-reliable H* Junior Brooke Scharn Thanksgiving, you won’t daughter just performed Radio hosts, seniors Adam takes a common stance necessarily like all the a dance recital to three Potter and Taylor Biggs when it comes to the issue. songs that get played. Christmas songs in her and sophomore Andrew “I think it’s appropriate Then there are others, bedroom, so I may have to Mulder, will provide yet to start listening to such as sophomore Lauren relent on the Thanksgiving another outlet of holiday Lots of people love good Christmas carol, but should they be played Christmas music after Rensink, who disagree with rule,” Truesdell said. music for campus. in November? Thanksgiving so I don’t get Scharn’s way of thinking. Whether you like it “We will have one day music,” Potter said. “We always on the H* Radio sick of it before Christmas “ I p e r s o n a l l y l o ve or not, the holiday fever of complete Christmas will be taking requests as Facebook page.” The Babies learn to work together ‘Call of Duty’ stays the same BY MICHAEL GUTSCHE about or remember. November comes to call, ALBUM REVIEWW gaining success with their cleaned up their sounds “Call of Duty” has never As invariably as the out plops another “Call of BY KATI HENG groups and were looking and learned to feed off each been high art, but it’s the tide, revisions to the Duty” game.