Pride Month: ‘Exactly Who I Want to Be’ the Penn State Model Railroad Club Is a Storied Club with Autumn Heltman Shares Her Personal Something for Everyone
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Follow along at: collegian.psu.edu @DailyCollegian dailycollegian dailycollegian INSIDE: Model Railroads Vol. 118, No. 99 April 2-4, 2018 Caitlin Lee/Collegian Ken Kalbach/Collegian Pride Month: ‘Exactly who I want to be’ The Penn State Model Railroad Club is a storied club with Autumn Heltman shares her personal something for everyone. journey of coming out, loving herself By Tina Locurto rely on since the beginning. MBB: ‘The Climb’ THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Catalano (junior-film) said she went with Heltman to buy clothes Autumn Heltman, character- that matched her identity. ized by her easy going and laid “[I] listened to her struggles back personality, said she rarely and tried to give her advice when cares or pays much to what oth- I could,” Catalano said. “She is ers think of her. my friend, and when my friends As a transgender student at are happy, I am happy.” Penn State, this is one thing she Though Heltman wears dress- has learned well throughout her es, dazzling necklaces and other transition. accessories while at Penn State, Formally beginning her transi- she said she still hides her iden- tion two semesters ago, Heltman tity around family members. (junior-physics) said around the “Most of them know about my Caitlin Lee/Collegian age of 12 her identity was some- transition, but at the same time Penn State men’s basketball thing important to her that she it’s something that they’re not persevered through a number heavily considered. really accustomed to,” she said. of challenges to end the season “What makes me most happy “They don’t really know Autumn, right now is that I’m living the life they only know Bryan.” NIT champions. I want to live,” Heltman said. “I’m Though formerly going by a scientist. I’m transgender. I’m “Bryan,” Heltman decided to Ken Kalbach/Collegian Ace of the Staff a woman — That’s exactly who I choose the name “Autumn” be- Autumn Heltman (junior-physics) poses for a portrait in the want to be.” cause it’s her favorite season HUB-Robeson Center on March 27. First beginning to wear items and it reminded her of childhood such as dresses and skirts around — filled with days exploring the 12 years old, Heltman said her forest collecting acorns and chop- According to the Human Rights on March 26. Additionally, The Trevor Proj- parents had no idea until she ping down small trees. Campaign, there were approxi- ect denoted that, on a national opened up to her mother about Heltman said she has not mately 28 deaths of transgender level, about 40 percent of trans- it — which turned into a “tough faced any direct violent discrimi- people — all connecting with fatal gender adults reported having situation.” nation for her identity, but she violence and discrimination. made a suicide attempt. Emily Catalano, a friend of Hel- knows the transgender commu- This year, there have been sev- tman’s since high school, was one nity as a whole faces violence and en deaths, the most recent was support system Heltman could intolerance. Amia Tyrae Berryman, who died See PRIDE, on Page 2. Caitlin Lee/Collegian Penn State baseball’s pitcher Students share on-campus housing mishaps Justin Hagenman shows By Lauren Fox Many students who live on week and a half before housing her a lot of inconvenience and resilience in bounce-back year THE DAILY COLLEGIAN campus know what it’s like when just turned it off completely to frustration, even making her re- the power goes out in their room repair it. consider on-campus housing in With over 13,000 students liv- or the water in their building only During this time, she was per- the future. ing on campus at one time, things runs cold, as well as how inconve- forming in the play “Spring Awak- “I was planning on living here COLUMN: Exams are bound to break. Begging the nient it can be. ening” for Penn State Thespians again my junior year, but I think question: how does Penn State Taylor Hufnagel lives in Pollock and would come back to her dorm I’m just going to stay in my apart- prepare for these housing mis- Halls, and she said her building’s between the two Saturday show ment downtown now because I haps? hot water was broken for about a times to shower, which she said don’t know if I can do this again,” felt like a garden hose, not be- Hufnagel said. ing able to stand directly in the Amanda Sublette also lives stream. in Pollock Halls and has issues When housing shut off her with hot water as well. She has building’s hot water a few days also experienced issues in her later from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., she specific dorm room with power decided to wait the entire day to outages. shower after her classes because “Earlier today, our power out- she could not deal with the cold lets stopped working,” Sublette again. (freshman-forensic science) said. Edward Fan/Collegian At 5 p.m., after her classes, “But my laptop was running low Exams do not encourage she was finally able to take a hot on battery so I had to come down learning. Through all of our shower. Within 10 minutes, the [to the lounge] just to charge fire alarm went off for a drill and it.” education, we have just been she had to walk down four flights She went on to say that many taught to over think. of stairs in a bathrobe with condi- other people she knows have also tioner still in her hair. experienced issues with the out- “I thought that the day the hot lets in their rooms not working. ONLINE: water was off, and everyone was Another issue she has expe- taking their showers after three, rienced in her building is the they wouldn’t be doing a fire elevators failing to work. drill,” Hufnagel (freshman-chem- Pride Month 2018 Mitchell Valentin/Collegian istry) said. Wolf and Ritner dorms stand in Pollock on Tuesday, Feb. 14. She said the situation caused See MISHAPS, on Page 2. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month Former NFL player Wade Davis, ‘Survivor Art Installation’ and more coming to campus Caitlyn Frolo programming coordinator of the walk will kick off with a brief talk talk called “Won’t you celebrate FOR THE COLLEGIAN Gender Equity Center, said in the and a sign-making effort in Heri- with me,” with former NFL release. tage Hall, with a walk outside to player Wade Davis, will take the From art installations to guest The month kicks off with an close. stage in Freeman Auditorium. speakers, The Gender Equity event titled “What Were You “Honoring Survival: Trans- The event, co-sponsored by Resi- Lindsey Shuey/Collegian Center on campus has planned Wearing?” — a “survivor art in- forming the Spirit” will also be dence Life, will use the poem by Pride Month is coming to Penn an array of events to bring in Sex- stallation” which will be set up in held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April Lucille Clinton as the backdrop State, and the Penn State ual Assault Awareness Month at 134 HUB-Robeson Center from 9 in the Memorial Lounge of the for a conversation about sexual LGBTQA Student Resource Center Penn State. Monday, April 2 to Wednesday, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. violence on college campuses. April is Sexual Assault Aware- April 4. Davis is “dedicated to highlight- is hosting an array of events ness Month and is being pro- The installation ing issues affecting those most moted to support those affected will be open from marginalized,” according to the by sexual assault, provide a safe 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. release and will aim to tackle top- Blockbuster books space for telling stories and edu- each day and aims ics ranging from sexual assault to cating students on sexual assault, to challenge the toxic masculinity. according to a press release from misconception that The final event, “Stevie Tran: the center. The event list also sexual violence She’s Still My Fraternity Broth- includes collaborations with the is connected to er,” will take place at 7 p.m. on LGBTQA Student Resource Cen- what someone was Wednesday, April 18 in 233B ter, Residence Life and the Uni- wearing. HUB-Robeson Center. versity Park Undergraduate As- On Monday, The event, co-sponsored by sociation. April 9, the awareness month The event, co-sponsored by the LGBTQA Student Resource “It’s important to us that along continues with the Men Against the Centre County Women’s Re- Center, spotlights speaker Stevie with raising awareness of sexual Violence Walk at 2:30 p.m. in Heri- source Center, will look to honor Tran, an attorney and published violence, we also include very tage Hall at the HUB-Robeson the “strength and resiliency” of author who focuses on social is- tangible ways people can take Center. The event is planned in individuals affected by sexual as- sues in the transgender com- part in prevention efforts, own the hopes that students will rec- sault and show how to support munity and “specifically issues Associated Press their role in the culture and envi- ognize that sexual assault is not those in the healing process. It fo- surrounding access to student A list of current or upcoming ronment and make a positive im- just a women’s issue. cuses on empowerment through organizations.” movie favorites with literary pact when it comes to ending sex- Sponsored by Men Against Vio- poetry, storytelling and music.