By SHAWN P. O'LEARY
Editor-in-Chief
 

In accordance with these demands the Committee on Homophobia and Institutional Change (CHIC) was convened. The CHIC is charged with supporting Coming Out Weekend activities and has acted in that capacity this year.

"Some activities are planned for Coming Out Weekend, including transportation to participate in the civil rights march in Orono/Bangor on Saturday," said Erica Rand, associate professor of art and a member of CHIC. "Other events include a campus march and chalking, and a panel on Sunday," she continued.

Daniel Ludden, assistant dean of students and also a CHIC member, outlined the role of CHIC in its first full year of existence. "We are trying to assemble a queer studies program and have GLBT issues more visible in college and alumni publications," he said. "There is a sense of a dedicated effort by the dean of students office to support this."

Laura Sundstrom, co-coordinator of the Gay-Lesbian-BisexualTrans Alliance

(GLBTA) and a member of CHIC, said that the administration "has been very willing to listen to what we have to say, but action does take time."

"Both the students and the administrative people are working to get things going but the process is slow," Sundstrom added.

Ludden said that while monies are to be set aside for a keynote speaker, that due to time constraints a speaker has not been scheduled for this weekend's events.

He did indicate, however, that a speaker may be chosen at a later date. "We plan to continue gay pride and celebration throughout the year," added Ludden.

Sundstrom also noted that the recognition of GLBTA issues must reach beyond the boundaries of a single weekend. "Queer visibility should be all year-round," she said. "We need the support of the administration and our peers all year long ... this is not a token weekend," she concluded.

Ludden also noted that College Relations, Admissions and alumni groups are in agreement to incorporate GLBT issues and activities into their literature. In addition, the activities surrounding Coming Out Weekend have ben incorporated into this year's Parents and Families Weekend handbook, and rainbow-colored lapel pins will be available for parents at the registration.

n Stumbling blocks

Both Ludden and Rand acknowledged that CHIC's task is not an easy one. "Conquering a queer studies program is huge," said Ludden. He said that the task is not nearly as simple as hiring new faculty members.

Ludden said that because money is limited that the college must first find individuals within the college qualified to start such a program. In addition, those faculty which are hired must not only be an expert in GLBT issues but also qualified to teach in existing disciplines of the college. One such example would be a psychology professor who teaches one or more courses within the psychology department which relate to GLBT issues.

Ludden also noted that a large pool of qualified applicants doesn't exist. He said that while some have experience in these issues, very few are experts and therefore the recruitment and selection of applicants will be daunting.

Ludden also noted that there is a growing demand for such people. "We certainly aren't the only college without a queer studies program," he said.

Rand stressed that resources available to CHIC are obstacles to accomplishing their goals. "CHIC struggles to make change in a context in which many social justice issues demand our attention and support," she said. "Not to mention a context in which committee members and allies have other responsibilities, like going to, teaching, and working at school."

Rand also cited means by which social resistance to CHIC's work may also come into play, such as "homophobia and transphobia, including a tendency to minimize that there is a problem."

"People often view Bates as an inclusive environment, but the fact is that Bates is a site for acts of violence, harassment and intimidation, along with the daily acts of prejudice, misunderstanding and discrimination," she added.

n Posters torn down

Rand's remarks were echoed by the actions of at least a few Bates students Thursday night when several of the GLBTA posters promoting the Coming Out Weekend posters were torn down.

Sundstrom was informed of the hate crime by a custodian who found the posters. "This is definitely evidence of the resistance to what is going on," said Sundstrom.