Homosexual Student Group Denied Access by DAVE TYLER Father Peter Rocca That the Ban Same Problems Before
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Tuesday, January 31, 1995 • Vol. XXVI No. 76 TilE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY'S Homosexual student group denied access By DAVE TYLER Father Peter Rocca that the ban same problems before. It just According to Smith, the attorney Peter Cicchino visited News Editor would be effective immediately. happened to be GLND/SMC this change is a significant blow to campus with the help of Rocca said that the university's time." the gay and lesbian population GLND/SMC. In a reversal of university pol action was prompted by the "We want to be fair to organi at Notre Dame. "GLND/SMC is On Thursday, February 2, icy, administration officials group's decision last semester zations who have a right to use the only organization at either GLND/SMC will be among sev have denied a gay and lesbian to advertise the location of the those facilities. We are not bar school that has been actively eral groups hosting Andrew student group access to the one meetings. ring individuals from seeking responding to the needs of our Sullivan, editor of The New Re meeting place on campus open When reached by telephone, counseling at the Center," community." public. Sullivan who is both gay to it. In reaction, student lead Rocca said that administration Rocca said. During the fall 1994 semes and Catholic, will speak on the llrs of the group have pledged action was not targeted at indi GLND/SMC leaders admitted ter, the group began publicizing relationship between homosex to present their cause to the viduals or at GLND/SMC for to being stunned by the change meeting locations, a first in uality and the church. Bland eampus at large. their views. in policy. GLND/SMC's decade long pres ford said Sullivan's lecture will Leaders of Gays and Lesbians "This is part of a long-stand "The administration has ence at Notre Dame. Prevented go on as planned. of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's ing university policy prohibiting banned us from the space they by university policy from spon GLND/SMC officials acknowl (GLND/SMC} were informed in a groups that are not officially have offered us for nine years, soring lectures or other events, edged that the university's .January 23 meeting that they recognized by the University and no alternatives have been GLND/SMC has cooperated with move will have an effect on the would be barred from gather from using University facilities, offered. The policy is a setback several academic departments organization's future function ing in the University Counseling and allowing certain privileges for the University, and a set and campus organizations in ing. "Gays and lesbian are a Center, a facility the group has for recognized groups," he said. back for us as well," said the past to invite speakers to very underserved part of the used for meetings for nine "It came to our attention that Blandford. "It's a setback for address issues surrounding sex Notre Dame/Saint Mary's com years. GLND/SMC was using the those in the process of coming ual orientation. munity. A diminished presence .John Blandford and Kelley Counseling Center to conduct out of the closet, because they In the fall, Ron Nyswaner, by GLND/SMC will have a big Smith, co-chairs of GLND/SMC, their official meetings. We've need some safe space to deal screenwriter of the movie said they were instructed by had other groups encounter the with their emotions." "Philadelphia," and civil rights see ACCESS/ page 4 Decisions for Kinder, Farmer issued today By JOHN LUCAS Managing Editor The South Bend Tribune re ported Monday that Notre Dame football players Randy Kinder and Robert Farmer will learn the outcome of their dis ciplinary hearing in a meeting with a university administra tive panel today. The three-person panel reached a verdict on Friday, drafted written notification on Monday, and will meet with the students involved today, ac cording to The Tribune. The university reportedly will not issue a public statement on the panel's decision. Federal privacy laws bar university of ficials from discussing student disciplinary matters. The Tribune reported last week that Kinder and Farmer were charged with battery by the Office of Student Affairs. All parties involved testified during a three-day hearing that ended Jan. 19. A female Notre Dame student The Observer/ Photo Staff has alleged that Kinder. Former Notre Dame baskeball coach, Richard "Digger" Phelps, is considering a run for the United States presidency in 2004. Farmer and another man were Phelps said his main focus will be to alleviate problems associated with urban crime and drug abuse. involved in an incident at Grace Hall in the early hours of Oct. 16. Phelps considering U.S. presidency The other man, a student at Indiana University in By ETHAN HAYWARD programs. level, for change to be realized. "We have Bloomington, was not charged News Writer According to Phelps, these and similar never gone grass-roots. Trickle-down at the disciplinary hearings. programs would teach children alterna hasn't worked." According to DuLac, Kinder Ike. Tricky Dick. The Gipper. Slick Willy. tives to violence and drug use and build He stresses the role that the use and and Farmer could face disci Digger? What would seem like a far partnerships within the community among sale of illegal drugs has played in the plinary probation, suspension, fetched scenario in the 1980's wouldn't be businesses, local leaders, social agencies, decline of urban neighborhoods. Phelps or even expulsion from the uni quite so implausible if former Notre Dame law enforcement, and educational in specifically cited that the drug trade is a versity. basketball coach Richard "Digger" Phelps stitutions. $50 billion a year business, but that the The Tribune cited unnamed has his way. The ultimate motive in implementing profits from it are well-hidden. sources that indicated the fe Phelps is considering a run for the presi these programs, Phelps says. was to link He asserted that the U.S. constitutes five male student may decide to dency in 2004. His main objective is to the "haves" in a given community with the percent of the global population, but also pursue criminal charges if the alleviate the causes and effects of urban "have nots" in hopes of building a better constitutes 50 percent of the global drug university takes no action crime and drug abuse by the nation's community for all. But these programs problem. Phelps dismisses the notion of against Kinder or Farmer. young people. were cut off in 1993 when the presidency legalizing drugs, claiming that drug use "is The St. Joseph County Prose He seeks to do this through federal was turned over to Bill Clinton, whose legalized if you have money". meaning cutor's office has no official ju grass-roots programs aimed at empower cabinet members have thus far made no that those with health insurance are often risdiction in the case unless Ing local neighborhoods towards economic effort to revitalize them. covered for rehabilitation and are often complaint is filed with the of and educational viability. Now, Phelps has set the years between returned to their jobs once they have com fice. Until 1992, Phelps headed a federal pro now and 2004 as a tirrie frame for efforts pleted rehabilitation. The Notre Dame Police De gram called Weed and Seed, a grass-roots such as those he has been a part of to On the other hand, the "have nots" are partment is not obligated to re effort to empower local communities. Its begin again. "If it's not changed in 2004, frequently put in jail and have difficulty port incidents to the prosecu aims were to use law enforcement agen I'll do it myself. I just can't walk away finding jobs when their addictions are dis tor's office unless the person cies to weed out the bad elements within a from it," he says. covered. alleging the incident cooper given neighborhood, and then to seed the Phelps claims that reform must be initi Phelps also stressed the need for liability ates. community with after-school and mentor ated at the local level, not at the federal The South Bend Tribune con see PHELPS I page 4 tributed to this report. ....------------------------------------ ----------------- -- ---- - page 2 The Observer • INSIDE Tuesday, January 31, 1995 • INSIDE COLUMN • Wmu.. o AT A GLANCE Leaving a legacy Emperor Akihito visits earthquake victims in Japan to repair damage from the 7.2 magnitude of living NISHINOMIYA, Japan quake. Two weeks after the devastating. "Our biggest concern now is that people or earthquake in western Japan.~ will lose hope," said Sakamoto. "The emper Emperor Akihito is coming to visit or's visit may help boost morale." Catching those victims. But Chieko Komura would· The emperor does not often visit disas- rather have a warm place to stay-· FFtlltMt ...k,:~t ter sites, and few have openly complained of one that doesn't have to be shared his absence. He took more than two weeks to Kodak moments with 1,100 people. visit northern Okushiri Island in 1993 after an "It may make some people here earthquake-triggered tidal wave killed more or happy, but I'm too busy just getting than 200 people. by day to day," a shivering Komura However. some commentators criticized ??? said, bundled against the bitter cold· the palace bureaucracy for allowing Crown • • • that moved into this region Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako to visit Carpe diem ... seize th~------ Monday. the Middle East three days after the earth day! The Nishinomiya City quake.