THE[Where You Read It First TUFTS Thursday, April 15,1999 DAILY Volume XXXVIII, Number 51 Resolution on heterosexism, homophobia discussed Passed in Senate, topic debate, vote set for Monday gram. The LGBT community has have qualms with this resolution submitted a document to the ad- and not another,” Heumann said. by BENJAMIN GEDAN “have not been fully met.” pus,” said Senator Erin Ross. ministration that contains various Senator Anoop Swaminath, Daily Editorial Board Most senators are generally “However, I caution the senators recommendations concerning the who has committed his support A resolution sponsored by the supportive of the resolution to to really examine the issues raised ROTC program. for the resolution, admits to hav- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and communicate the demands of thle in theresolution ... 1 hopethat sena- LGBT students oppose the ing hada negative initial response. transgendered community at Tufts LGBT community. However, thle tors do not hastily pass this reso- “Don’t ask, don’ttel1,”federal regu- “I read the entire resolution and is sparking debate among the Tufts details ofthe proposed document lution because they want to show lation which prohibits gays from I found that I disagreed with halfof Community Union (TCU) Senate. have proved contentious. their support for the LGBT com- joining the military and also ap- it. Then 1 spoke with a gay student The resolution proposes some A motion to vote on the resolu- munity.” and I came to better understand changes that cut to the core of the tion during last Sunday’s Senatie A request that Residential Life the issues,” Swaminath said. University itself, including allow- meeting failed after TCU Senate “adopt a policy of co-education Resolution proponents have ing co-ed rooming situations, President Jack Schnirman opposed and non-discrimination in hous- spoken strongly in favor ofthe co- funding students who lose their the request. Schnirman said thad ing ... allowing opposite gender ed housing and emphasized the military scholarships due to their the issues required serious students to live together in importance of a Senate mandate sexual orientation, and adding a thought and discussion. doubles,” has likewise divided the for LGBTdemands. “Despite the liberal attitude, box for applicantsto listtheirsexual “There’salot ofimportant stuff Senate. I orientation on the Tufts applica- to be considered. That’s why I was Senator Ben Hayden shares the there are still people on campus tion. As the Monday vote ap- not willing to let it go forward and opinion of many senators in that who would[haveyou] believe that proaches, senators are voicing an be voted on last week ... We want he wishes to strengthen the LGBT homosexuality, or bisexuality, is array of opinions. tomake sure whatwe’reasking for community.Nevertheless, Hayden somehow a sin or immoral,” Hill The initial clause ofthe resolu- is exactly what we want,” said, unless the section related to said. [The resolution] will be very tion asks the administration to Schnirman said. co-ed dorm rooms is amended on useful to LGBT activists on cam- address concerns enumerated by “I think it is necessary that the Monday, he will not vote for the pus who need Senate backing to the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Is- Senate pass a resolution to ame- resolution. help implementthe improvements sues Task Force Report in 1993. liorate the heterosexist and hol- Senator Alethea Pieters, co-au- that need to be made.” These issues, the document reads, mophobic policies on this cam- thor of the resolution for Asian TCU Senate Historian Robyn Americans, also sup- Herzog said she will also vote in Ethnic t ports the resolution -- favor of the resolution. Herzog TCU Senate Culture, i. y , but doubts that the Senator Erin-Ross agrees with the resolution’s state- Community Relations Committee “Residential Life OEce ment that the LGBTcommunity is will deem the recom- plies to the ROTC program. If a often an afterthought during di- The following is the resolution current& under consideration by the TCU endati on feas i b I e .” ROTC recruit is discovered to be versity talks on campus. Senate. m Issues of pa- homosexual, he or she is removed The resolution accuses the Future Resolution to Help Eliminate Heterosexism and Homophiobia at Tufts rental objections, from the program and loses schol- Officeof Diversity Education and University Schnirman said, will arship funds. Development of pushing aside ’mereas the recommendaTionsmade by the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues make thisgoal particu- The resolution’s author, Cul- LGBT issues. The office’s web Task Force, which was convened in the spring of 1992 and issued its report on larly dificultto accom- ture Representative Catherine page is entirely focused on racial May 20,1993, have not been fully met, Marquadt, said that the resolution issues while ignoring those of Whereas the recommendations ofthe ROTC Task Force, which was convened plish. Senator stops short ofasking Tufts to elimi- members ofTufts’ Transgendered, on Jan. 29,1996 and issued its report on Jan. 17,1997,have been entirely ignored Micheie Shelton be- nate ROTC. It does request that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective except for the one provision to maintain the status quo by continuing “to accept lieves that offering all the University provide financial (TTLGBC), said TTLGBC Presi- ROTC scholarship funds” for the time being, students the option of aid for Tufts students who are dent Carl Sciortino. ‘Whereas, at the diversity meetings convened by Vice President I. Melvin forced to leave ROTC and cannot Supporters of the resolution Bernstein, senior administrators focused almost exclusively on racial issues when co-ed housing could discourage parents afford the Tufts education. said that Tufts Vice President of asked to talk about diversity, and had to be prompted to discuss lesbian, gay, The University scholarship is a Arts, Sciences, and Technology bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues by students, faculty, and staff in almost from sendingtheir kids to Tufts. Shelton said way “to make [Tufts’] non-dis- Me1 Bernstein did not incorporate every instance, she is currently unde- criminatory policies workwith fed- LGBTissues into anyofhisdiver- I Whereas the administration has not made it clear what sections ofthe Lesbian, eral army policies,” Senator Ralan sity meetings. Gay, and Bisexual Issues Task Force recommendations they are supportive ofand cided on the resolu- tion due to the issues Hillsaid. Additionally, the resolution are committed to achieving, related to housing and Some senators disagree. As- the administration to increase Whereas the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Resource Center provides students, asks sistant Treasurer Marc Lipson said its funding of the Lesbian, Gay, faculty, and staff with resources, support, and a sense of community, regardless military scholarship funding. he has concerns related to the Bisexual Resource Center. of sexual orientation, The resolution ROTC section and called the re- “We’re included in the mission Whereas, despite similar missions, mandates, and constituent ,populations, served scholarship money dis- statement fordiversity. I think the other culture centers on campus have operating budgets that are close to, and also asks the adminis- tration tore-examine is- criminatory. culture centers should be on equal in some cases exceed, one hundred percent of the operating budget of the LGB sues related to the Re- “I cannot in good conscience footing... the first step in looking Resource Center, serve Officer Training vote for this resolution,” Lipson at the centers the same is funding see RESOLUTION, page 23 Corps (ROTC) pro- said. them the same,” Marquadt said. Senator Alyssa Heumann said Two curricular LGBT issues are she is surprised at the reactions also part of the resolution. These JumboFest to be held on Friday many senators have had to the include a clause in support of a - resolution. While resolutionsfora LGBT minor and another section Event returns in full force after. two dismal years women’s studies major and the asking that LGBT-related courses Latino and Asian communities count for the culture segment of byBROOKEMENSCHEL This year’s JumboFest boasts cil, the sophomore class council, were approved“in turn,” thisreso- Tufts core distribution require- Daily Editorial Board a plethora ofrides, such as a large and the Golden Key Honor soci- lution has spurred significant de- ments. Currently, classes on Students participating in April moon-walk, an inflatable obstacle ety. bate, Heumann said. homosexuality cannot be used to Open House will witnessthe long- course, avelcro bungee run, and a WMFO will alsobroadcast live “I think it says a lot about the awaited return of JumboFest on dunk tank featuring many promi- from the festival forpart ofthe day. community that people would see SENATE, page 23 the residential quad at 1 p.m. Fri- nent campus figures -including day afternoon. Tufts Community Union Senate This year marks the eighth President Jack Schnirman and JumboFest, a festival which will Dave Backman, the operations celebrate the University’s 147th coordinator in the office of Stu- birthday. dent Activities. The event, sponsored by the There will also be several per- Student Alumni Relations Com- formances by student groups in- mittee (SARC), was rained out in cluding the Beelzebubs, 1997.Last year’s JumboFest, which Sarabande, Cheap Sox, Tufts also suffered rainy weather condi- DanceCollective, Shir Appeal, the tions, was poorly attended. Co- Jackson Jills, and sQ on a stage coordinators Stacy Birdsell and neartheolin sideofthe residential Carrie Quinn are hoping for sunny quad. weather on Friday. “Campus Convenience do- “One of the goals of the event natedalargesumofmoneyforthe is to include both the students and event, in exchange for which we the alumni,” Birdsell said. are putting their logo on some free The last full-fledged JumboFest stuffwe’re giving away,”Birdsell was held in 1996, when an esti- said. mated 2,000 people filled the resi- Other sponsors of JumboFest dential quad.