Gay Student Denied Leadership P Osition on Basis of Sexuality TCF Threatened with Loss of Recognition, Funding by BENJAMIN GEDAN Catalano, Atcf Member Since Rights
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THE TU DAILY mLereYou Read It First Thursday, Aprils 6,2000 Volume XL, Number 47 I Gay student denied leadership P osition on basis of sexuality TCF threatened with loss of recognition, funding by BENJAMIN GEDAN Catalano, aTCF member since rights. TCF will have 48 hours to Daily Editorial Board her freshman year and the head of respond to any TCUJ complaint. Tufts Christian Fellowship TCF’s Women’s Accountability Catalano seemed confident that (TCF) announced yesterday an Group, called thepolicydiscrimi- the complaint had a chance of official policy that prohibits ho- natory and has taken her objec- success. “When I spoke to Dean mosexuals from filling leadership tion to Acting Dean of Students Reitman, he made it very clear to roles. TheTuftsCommunity Union Bruce Reitman. She is in the pro- me that there’s no way the Senate (TCU) Senate-funded religious cess offiling an official complaint would approve a constitution that group was forced to clarify its with theTCU Judiciary(TCUJ)to made it explicit that they were go- regulations when junior Julie deprive TCF of its status as a rec- ing to discriminate on the basis of Photo by Eva Rebek Catalano told TCF members that ognized student organization and sexuality,” she said. Hayavadana, the spring drama deparhpent show, opens to- she was bisexual, but expressed a withhold its$5,787 ofsenate fund- Catalano had originally told night at 8 p.m. and runs this weekend and next. See the Week- desire to continue in her leader- ing. Chang that she planned to go ender section for more information. ship capacity. “The TCUJ, along with both public with her sexuality in Janu- parties involved, has consulted ary. Chang, an affiliate chaplain at [Reitman] on this matter and we Tufts, is an employee of the Inter are all currently working to rectify Varsity Christian Fellowship, the situation as soon as possible,” TCF’s national organization, which said Jessica Branco, TCUJ chair. brings Christian activities to col- oypening rallv held last-night “We are waiting for a formalized, lege campuses. It was a private d more explicit complaint to be pre- discussion and the two spoke as by BROOKE MENSCHEL Director of Dining Services when then-TCU Senate Treasurer sented to us before we initiate friends. Daily Editorial Board Patti Lee said that all prior dates Larry Harris and Shelton ap- mediation or hearing procedures,” “We discussed it at length, and A Fter ayear ofwork, the newly forthecompletion ofHotung were proached the administration with Branco continued. [Chang] said this is going to be an redone Hotung Sports Caf6 en- tentative. “The dates that get re- the idea to renovate the area and Members of Tufts issue in the Fellowship,” Catalano joyed itsgrand opening last night ported are hopes, not confirmed introduce the new menu. Since Transgendered Lesbian Gay Bi- said. “She was supportive but with<.hecelebration ofthe winter/ dates,” she said. “What you hear then, Shelton said she has worked sexual Collective (TTLGBC) made it very clear that she views spring sports pep rally. The grand often in discussion are target closelywith Lee, DeanofAdmin- pledged their support ofcatalano’s [homosexuality] as a sin.” opening concludes a productive, dates, but they get reported as istration and Finance Wayne cause. Co-Coordinator Shou Min Chang spoke with Catalano albeit frustrating year ofwork on facts.” Bouchard, and Campus Center Tan was candid in his remarks, again in February, and last week the project. The grand opening was the Dining Services Manager Keith referring to TCF’santi-gay restric- broughtthe issue in frontofTCF’s Last night’s celebration in- official debut of the pub-style Mayes. tion as a clear violation of a long- senior council, the group of stu- cluded free drinks, free Tufts gear, menu, the new furniture, and the Although Shelton said the pro- established University policy. dents who make decisions for the ten-cent appetizers, a DJ, and spirit freshly painted green walls. Tufts cess has been frusfrating, she “We’regoingtocampaign very organization. After a weekend of for Tufts’ athletic teams. The sports decorations were also said some administrators have hardagainstthem,”Tansaid.“This deliberation, TCF decided to deny eveni was co-sponsored by the scheduled to be in place, but will told her that completing such a goes against Tlifis’ discrimination Catalano a leadership position for Tufts University Sprit Coalition not arrive until the weekend. The project in under a year is unprec- policies, and there are no ifs, ands, nextyear. Shewill bepermittedto and 1he Tufts Community Union menu has been available since edented. “Overall, if I step back or buts.” Jody Chang, complete her current term, and all (TCU) Senate. January, and the furniture and and look at the process, I am really faculty headofTCF, and Reitman students, regardless of their sexu- While Hotung was filled with paint arrived over spring break. happy because it happened,” will meet today to discuss TCF’s ality, are afforded general TCF a festive atmosphere last night, Lee said that she felt bad that the Shelton said.“From astudent’sper- future at Tufts in light of its recent membership. T the event was originally sched- decorations would not be in place spective, it is really frustrating be- pronouncement and its plan to According to Catalano, the uled to occur on March 29. Senate for the grand opening. “It had been cause students are only here for a add a section to its constitution seniorcouncil was not unanimous Assistant Treasurer Michele my intention to get the decorating limited amount of time.” She cited cementing the exclusionary prin- on the contentious issue. Council Shelton, one ofthemajororganiz- done at spring break, but when I got seniors who have worked on the ciple. Chang is aware ofthe pend- member Ohene Asare would not ers behind the project, said that in touch with [the decorating com- project and anticipated the redesign ing TCUJ complaint and said she of Hotung, only be to able to enjoy the space was reserved and a DJ pany], I realizedthatthey in fact had will defend TCF’s constitutional see TCF, page 15 was hired for the evening. She other projects which they were put- it for amonth before they graduate. said that the process that culmi- ting as a higher priority,” she said. nated in last night’s grand open- Lee said hat the materials that the ing was frustrating. Originally, company designed are ready, but Davis makes plea for change there was discussion of the the decorating company has been changes in Hotung being intro- unable to bring acrew to campus to by KIM FOX duced over Thanksgiving week- hang the decorations. Daily Editorial Board end, ihen over winter break, and Shelton said that the grand Former Black Panther Angela mostrecently, in time forthe March opening was held last night in- Davis spoke to acapacity crowd in 29 date. stead of waiting for the decora- Cohen Auditorium-Tuesday, dis- “[‘The Hotung opening] was tions to arrive because “we didn’t cussing herviews on race, women, delayed so much because I think want to push it back anymore and the prison industrial complex that certain aspects of the pro- because we didn’t want to lose to the audience of professors, cess were not done in a timely the space or lose the DJ.” She community members, and stu- fashion,” Shelton said. “I think expected the decorations to be in dents. overdl everything could have place upon her return from spring Davis took a hard look at the been done sooner; the furniture break, but was frustrated “to see solution that society has come up could have been ordered sooner, the wallsgreen but [with] nothing withtosolve itsracialproblems- the decorations could have been on them.” enlightenment - which she de- ordered sooner.” The project began last spring fined as learning about one another’s differences and similari- ties. “Enlightenment,” she said, Photo by Jacob Silberberg “is not going to lead to some radi- African-American Center Director Lisa Coleman introduced cal transformation ofpolicy struc- Angela Davis Wednesday night. ‘ tu res .” Instead, she proposed a more ofsocietal structures. “We tend to skin. active solution. “It is important to assume that since there is no more Davis connected this part of challenge structures [so that there legal discrimination that weareall her discussion to the larger issue is a] warning against reproducing equal before the law.” of national race relations. “Think structures so we don’t end up It is apparent that this is not the about the possibility that what is where we began [where] nothing case when the “punishment in- lauded as progress in race rela- really changes,” she said. dustry” is examined. “Prisons are tions has been achieved with strat- Race relations, or as Davis perhaps our most diverse institu- egies of forced seclusion..” She called it, “the Rodney King ap- tions,”she said, elicitinga chuckle then shifted the topic to the audi- proach” and the “can’t we all get from the audience. She cited a ence,andchallengedthem. “Think along approach,” is basically a number of statistics that exposed about the way your lives are af- meaningless term at this point, the large number of incarcerated fected by the prison industrial Photo by Jacob Silberberg according to the speaker. She al- black men. Prison systems, she complex.” Fletcher students Jenifer Eikren, Peter McSharry, Davis luded to the fact that while there is implied, are filled with people who Society uses prison labor to Boolrhart, and Uma Sarkar enjoy pub-style food in the new no longer much overt racial injus- were wrongfully accused, many booths at Hotung. tice, it isstillimplicit inthemajority times because ofthe color oftheir see DAVIS, page 27 2 THETUFTS DAILY April 6,2000 The DaUy Weather Forecast Today Tomorrow Saturday New Prime Minister Mostly cloudy, windy and Mostly sunnylwindy Showers, windy Mori assures continuity milder, spot showel”, Hi:60 Hi59 TOKYO- Within hours ofhis election on Wednesday, Japanesi Hi:64 Lo:43 Lo:45 Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori moved to assure the world that thi government and its policies had barely broken stride as he replace( Discussion: A rapid progression of weather systems will continue to bring thecritically ill KeizoObuchi.