LGBT news and On Campus News
Welcome class of 2015
Welcome queer williams students staff and faculty. We are going to have a great year. Keep looking here for the most up to date info on LGBTQ life at Williams.
-justin adkins
Assistant Director MCC
Rainbow Graduation 2011
We hope you will join us on May 18, 2011 from 5:30-7pm
for our annual Rainbow Graduation Ceremony in Goodrich Hall.
This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ Williams graduates and allies.
Fill out the participation form below
Frequently asked questions:
1) What is Rainbow Graduation?
· This ceremony congratulates and celebrates the achievements of LGBTQ and ally seniors. It’s basically an opportunity for us to thank you for your contributions to the LGBTQ community and/or the Williams Community in general. In addition to the seniors we will be handing an award to an alumni who contributed to LGBTQ life either on campus or once they left.
2) Why should I participate?
Rainbow Graduation rewards you for your accomplishments while a student at Williams. It also serves as a formal “goodbye” to the community. You will be able to serve as an example and inspiration to the Williams community, particularly fellow students.
3) Who attends Rainbow Graduation?
Everyone is welcome! Students, faculty, staff, and alumni all attend the ceremony. If you have individuals you would like to invite to watch you participate, simply email justin at jla1@williams.edu and he will send them an invite. We also have invitations/envelopes available in justin’s office should you want to formally invite guests.
4) Do I have to be an LGBTQ leader or extensively involved with LGBTQ issues?
No, you do not. Rainbow Graduation is held to celebrate all sorts of achievements by LGBTQ and ally students.
5) What should I wear to the ceremony?
Don’t worry: no caps and gowns for this ceremony! Most participants in the past have chosen to dress “business casual,” but you are welcome to dress as you wish.
How to Participate:
Please fill out the form below
(NOTE: This information will be read aloud at the ceremony):
*** Please email justin an electronic photo of you to be used on the Day of Rainbow Graduation (will not be posted electronically or used for anything public). This is of course, an option, but encouraged. ***
QUEER PRIDE DAYS: WEEK 4
Queer Pride Days is an annual series of discussions, performances, and events that encourage the entire Williams Community to learn about and celebrate queer identities.
***Please forward widely***
Monday:
Noon-1pm Women’s Center Lunch with Professor Brian Martin “Beyond Blond: Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity in Modern Scandinavia” (Paresky 210)
Mythologized as the land of the aurora borealis and the midnight sun,Scandinavia is often mistakenly associated with blond-haired and blue-eyed uniformity. Modern Scandinavia, howe…ver, is a place of great social and cultural diversity, known for its leadership in gender equality, sexual liberation, women’s emancipation, and queer civil rights. This talk will focus on some of these myths and realities on gender and sexuality in modern Scandinavia.
8pm “Stump the Librarian” (Jenness Blue Room)
Stressed out about finals? Do all the papers on your to-do list have you down? If so, you don’t want to miss this: STUMP THE LIBRARIAN (click on the link) Monday, April 25th: 8pm Jenness House, Blue Room They will cover all sorts of topics, from how to find articles to how to cite references appropriately. Ask them anything you want, and if they can’t find the answer, you’ll win a prize. Feel free to send questions ahead at http://tinyurl.com/stumpthelibrarian
Tuesday:
8-9pm QSU Meeting: Queer Families! (Hardy House)
Come to Hardy House Tuesday evening for discussion about queer families led by Rhianna!
9-10pm QSU Board Meeting (Hardy House)
Board meetings are open, feel free to drop by or email Gabrielle (gmj1) and Mike (ms2) with any questions.
Wednesday:
12-12:30 or 12:30-1 Guided meditation
Come by Hardy House every Wednesday for one of 2 sessions of guided meditation with justin adkins.
7-8pm Rise Against Oppression (Paresky Lawn)
Join students, faculty and staff in a demonstration against human rights abuses and government corruption worldwide, as we recognize the parallels between injustices faced by Mexicans and Palestinians,
1. emphasizing the universality of human rights abuses.
2. standing against oppression, militarization, and corruption.
3. standing for legitimacy, democracy, human rights, and nonviolent resistance.
Paresky Lawn will become the site of solidarity, so come hear speeches, listen to music and light candles.
8:30pm Women’s Collective Meeting “Feminism, Sex Positivism and Pornography” (Hardy House)
9-10pm Anything But Straight in Athletics (Jenness 2nd Floor)
Recognizing that there are many in the Williams Athletic community who do not identify as straight, ABS began as a place for LGBTQ athletes to get together and discuss LGBTQ issues. All meetings are confidential and no one is required to identify their sexual orientation or gender identity, but everyone is invited to do so. Contact: justin adkins Justin.L.Adkins@williams.edu)
Thursday:
6-7pm QSU First-Year Dinner (Driscoll Lounge)
The final of four dinners hosted by the QSU for all first-year students interested in queer issues and queer life at Williams. This week’s discussion topic: The Queer First- Year Experience. The JAs for the class of 2015 are invited to attend this dinner and learn more about the queer firstyear experience.
7:30pm MassMoca “Power to the People” film series: The Garden
7-9pm Queer Panel @ MCLA
BGLAD is sponsoring a Queer Panel to discuss queer issues! The panel will feature the following talking points:
-Judith Butler’s idea of “gender as a performance”
-The effects of coming out — importance of social implications, along with the importance of people coming out themselves
-Why is “drag” still relevant? Is it relevant at all?
-What does it mean to be queer at MCLA?
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=205924392772072
Saturday:
8am-5pm 2nd Annual LGBTQ Equal Rights Conference in Boston
8pm MCLA’s BGLAD Presents the annual Drag Dance!
Come join us in a night of food, fun, music, and breaking gender norms in the most fabulous way! Contests! Prizes to the 2 best performances!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135821546488007&ref=ts
Sunday:
8pm Keeping the Faith, Chaplains Office (Paresky 2nd Floor)
Keeping the Faith is a new open discussion space for spiritually-oriented queers and their supporters to explore, affirm and seek to integrate the totality of who we are. Confidential drop-in meetings will occur 8-9pm every Sunday in the Chaplain’s office. People of all faith backgrounds and sexual orientations/gender identities are more than welcome to attend. Contact ccl2 or gmj1 for more information.
Rainbow
From the Record 4/13/11: “In celebration of Queer Pride Days, a colorfully decorated Chapin Hall provided a vibrant background for students enjoying the spring sunshine. Queer Pride Days runs through April.”
Photo credit: Emily Calkins, Record Photo Editor
QUEER PRIDE DAYS: WEEK 3
Queer Pride Days is an annual series of discussions, performances, and events that encourage the entire Williams Community to learn about and celebrate queer identities.
***Please forward widely***
Monday:
Noon-1pm Queer Lunch Table: Queerness, Assault, and Abuse (Paresky 112)
Queer your lunch! If you didn’t make it to the last discussion, don’t feel left out; this lunch talk is open to everyone! Hosted with members from the Rape and Sexual Assault Network (RASAN) this lunch discussion will provide a safe space for thoughtful discussion of what abuse and assault means to queers. Taking a broad view, we hope to discuss the interconnections of many kinds of abuse and assault: sexual assault, rape, substance abuse, homo-, bi- and transphobias, guilt, and struggles with maintaining mental and physical health.
6-7pm QSU Board Meeting (Jenness House)
Board meetings are open, feel free to drop by or email Gabrielle (gmj1) and Mike (ms2) with any questions.
7:30pm Purple Key Fair (Towne Field House)
Tuesday:
4pm LGBTQ Career Resource Seminar (OCC- 10 Weston)
Interested in pursuing a career in LGBTQ advocacy? Ever wondered how “out” to be on your resume or job interview? Ask these questions and more this Tuesday! Instead of a general meeting this week, there’ll be an OCC seminar especially for LGBTQ students. Ron Gallagher has been to the “Out For Work” LGBTQA College Student Career Conference and will be presenting/answering questions about jobs, cover letters, networking, interviews, etc.
6-7:30pm Discussion with Faisal Alam (Hardy House)
[Message from justin] The GSRC is honoured to bring Muslim activist of Pakistani descent, Faisal Alam to campus for a short talk and informal Q&A session. Faisal is sought around the world to share his experiences as a gay Muslim and to offer support for Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, especially through the organization he founded, Al-Fatiha.
I heard Faisal speak in February and he is fabulous. He came to Williams 4 years ago and all of the students who interacted with him raved about his kindness and openness to discuss difficult issues.
My hope is that Faisal’s visit will be fairly informal as I know we are all very busy this week with Islam Awareness Week, Queer Pride Days, etc. I am hoping that he will mostly be a great resource for all of you.
More info on Faisal is here: http://www.hiddenvoices.info/about-hidden-voices.php and here: http://www.wolfmanproductions.com/faisal.html
If you have issues or questions you hope Faisal might be able to address please send them to me so that I can give them to him beforehand and we can best utilize his time.
Please send this message to your listservs and share with anyone you think might be interested. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.
7:30 PM Take Back the Night
RASAN will be holding its annual Take Back the Night event, a national gathering as part of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, on Tuesday, April 19. This is an evening of solidarity and support for survivors of rape and sexual assault and their allies to let them know that they are not alone, to speak out against sexual violence, and raise community awareness against future violence. The rally also offers an opportunity for …the community to state it will not tolerate these crimes or let them go silently into the night. It will start at 7:30 pm at Chapin Hall and proceed in a candlelight walk across campus. There will be scheduled speakers in the Science Quad around 8:00 pm and an open mic at the Eyes around 8:30 pm, followed by a reception in Goodrich. All are welcome to attend.
Wednesday:
8-10pm Sex Jams with Laini and justin! (Rice House)
Thursday:
Noon-1pm, 4-4:45pm Queer Gallery Discussion (WCMA)
Thanks to Liz Gallerani, there will be a special QPDs exhibit in the Rose Study Gallery on Thursday for view at noon and again at 4pm. The pieces were handpicked for discussion about queerness, bodies, gender, and more. This event is organized partly in regards to the Alison Bechdel posters, with the hope that more people will engage critically and intellectually with these topics. Drop by, bring friends.
6-7pm First-Year Pizza Dinner, Jenness
The third of four dinners hosted by the QSU for all first-year students interested in queer issues and queer life at Williams. This week’s discussion topic: Queer Resources At Williams.
7-8pm MINCO Elections (Baxter Hall)
This week’s MinCo meeting is Election Day! Come to Paresky to hear the candidates for MinCo Board positions deliver brief speeches on their platforms! You will have the opportunity to ask them any questions that you may have. Attending this meeting is MANDATORY if you want to vote in the elections for the 2011-2012 MinCo Board.
Saturday:
8am-8am Williams v. Keene 24hr Rugby match!!!
9-10:30pm SpeakFree and Andrea Gibson (Baxter Hall)
A powerful live performer, Andrea Gibson is the winner of the 2008 Women’s World Poetry Slam, and has placed 3rd in world on two International Poetry Slam stages. As part of both Earth Week and Queer Pride Days, the QSU is teaming up with SJSF (Students for a Just and Stable Future) and TNG (Thursday Night Grassroots) to bring you a whole night of acoustic music and spoken word. Andrea Gibson will be going on at 9:30pm after a performance by SpeakFree…meet & greet to follow.
Sunday:
11am Workshop w/ Andrea Gibson (Hardy House)
Focusing on a myriad of social justice issues, we will explore the poet’s responsibility in the current political climate. We will read and discuss poems by contemporary writers focusing on issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, patriarchy, and capitalism, after which we will use the shared poems as writing prompts to inspire our own radical voices.
8pm Keeping the Faith, Chaplains Office (Paresky 2nd Floor)
Keeping the Faith is a new open discussion space for spiritually-oriented queers and their supporters to explore, affirm and seek to integrate the totality of who we are. Confidential drop-in meetings will occur 8-9pm every Sunday in the Chaplain’s office. People of all faith backgrounds and sexual orientations/gender identities are more than welcome to attend. Contact ccl2 or gmj1 for more information.
QUEER PRIDE DAYS: WEEK 2
Queer Pride Days is an annual series of discussions, performances, and events that encourage the entire Williams Community to learn about and celebrate queer identities.
***Please forward widely***
Monday:
Noon-1pm Queer Lunch Discussion: Asexuality, Abstinence, Celibacy, and Virginity (Paresky 112)
Come discuss the different–and often elided–practices of choosing not to have sex. This lunch table will offer a safe space to talk more about abstinence, asexuality, celibacy, and virginity.
5:30pm Japan Relief Coalition Meeting (Paresky 220)
Help guide our responses to the catastrophes in Japan. The Japan Relief Coalition – formed last week, uniting many campus groups and individuals for learning, solidarity, and humanitarian outreach – meets again to coordinate events and fundraising. If you’re planning a program or looking for a way to get involved – please join us.
6-7pm QSU Board Meeting (Jenness House)
Board meetings are open, feel free to drop by or email Gabrielle (gmj1) and Mike (ms2) if you’d like to help out with Queer Pride Days.
Tuesday:
8pm QSU General Meeting: Activist Self-Care (POSTPONED to encourage attendance at Elizabeth Povinelli’s lecture)
8pm Elizabeth Povinelli: “What Remains Queer about Queer Theory Transnationally?” (Griffin 7)
Brought by the program for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Elizabeth Povinelli, Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Columbia University, will deliver a lecture entitled “What Remains Queer about Queer Theory Transnationally?” Povinelli is the author of a number of influential books in the fields of anthropology and feminist/queer studies, including The Empire of Love: Toward a Theory of Intimacy, Geneology, and Carnality and her new book, Economies of Abandonment: Social Belonging and Endurance in Late Liberalism, both from Duke University Press. Here’s a link to her website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/anthropology/fac-bios/povinelli/faculty.html
Wednesday:
11-3pm Rapid HIV Testing with Tapestry Health (Outside Paresky)
Tapestry Health will be conducting free, rapid HIV tests. Get tested, grab lunch, and get the results in only 20 minutes! Any questions? Email Mike (ms2).
9pm ABS discussion: LGBTQ & Allied in Athletics (Jenness 2nd Floor)
The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center & Anything But Straight in Athletics is hosting a meeting for LGBTQ and allied students involved in athletics at Williams. This discussion will be confidential and no one is required to identify their sexual orientation or gender identity, but everyone is invited to do so. Questions? Contact: justin adkins, justin.adkins@williams.edu
Thursday:
Lunch/Dinner: “Day of Silence” Info Table
Stop by Paresky at lunch or dinner today to find out more about Day of Silence at Williams (Friday) and how to participate. Held on campuses nation-wide as a non-violent protest, “Day of Silence” is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those who are silenced and discriminated against because of their sexual orientation/gender identity. This years focus at Williams is: International LGBTQ Rights.
5:30-7pm First-Year Pizza Dinner, Jenness
The second of four dinners hosted by the QSU for all first-year students interested in queer issues and queer life at Williams. This week’s discussion topic: Coming Out At Williams.
Friday: Day of Silence
6am-6pm Day of Silence
Held on campuses nation-wide as a non-violent protest, “Day of Silence” is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those who are silenced and discriminated against because of their sexual orientation/gender identity. This years focus at Williams is: International LGBTQ Rights. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. Stop by Paresky on Thursday for more information.
6pm Break the Silence/Follow-up Dinner Discussion (Paresky 220)
Saturday:
4-6pm Loesje International Queer Issues Workshop (Paresky 114)
This workshop is modeled off the format used by Loesje International, a free speech organization that addresses problems in our society through group workshops to generate text-based posters. We’ll think creatively and collaboratively about the word QUEER, queer life at Williams and the greater community, and anything else queer-related and design awareness-raising posters.
10pm-1am Queer Bash: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (at the Log)
Queer Bash is going commando this Spring! The QSU wants YOU to come down to the log this Saturday and have a blast dancing the night away.
Sunday:
7pm William Sloan Coffin Contest in Passionate Public Speaking (First Congo Church)
Finalists include: Emanuel Yekutiel, ’11: “Perceptions” // Christopher Holland, ‘11: “The Queer Silences of Faith” // Chandler Sherman, ’11: “Out of Many, One”
Earlier this year the members of the Williams College undergraduate community submitted essays in one of two categories: Social Justice/Activism or Faith/Spirituality. A team of community judges selected the six top essays (three in each category) and on Sunday, April 17, at 7:00 pm in the First Congo sanctuary, the finalists will deliver their speeches to the public and to another panel of judges. Join with us in calling the next great Voice from out of Williams College!
8pm Keeping the Faith, Chaplains Office (Paresky 2nd Floor)
Keeping the Faith is a new open discussion space for spiritually-oriented queers and their supporters to explore, affirm and seek to integrate the totality of who we are. Confidential drop-in meetings will occur 8-9pm every Sunday in the Chaplain’s office. People of all faith backgrounds and sexual orientations/gender identities are more than welcome to attend. Contact ccl2 or gmj1 for more information.
QUEER PRIDE DAYS: WEEK 1
Queer Pride Days is an annual series of discussions, performances, and events that encourage the entire Williams Community to learn about and celebrate queer identities.
***Please forward widely***
Monday:
9-10pm QSU Board Meeting, Jenness House
Tuesday:
10am-2pm QPDs Kick-off event: Rainbow Day! Paresky
Rainbow Day is a celebration of all things rainbow. Wear rainbow clothes and join us at the Paresky table for rainbow goodies and activities.
8-9pm Friendship Speed Dating, Hardy House
Whether you’ve never been to a QSU meeting or are on the board, join us for an original take on speed dating. Get to know your friends better and make some new ones. All are welcome, especially first years and new members.
Wednesday:
8pm Sister Spit at UMASS Amherst
Legendary, raucous, rowdy performance gang, Sister Spit, lands in AMHERST with a vanload of multimedia, queer-centric brilliance! Don’t miss this multimedia explosion of taste-makers, novelists, fashion plates, painters, performance artists, poets and fancy scribblers. Featuring queer luminary Michelle Tea (Best Music Writing 2010, Chelsea Whistle, Valencia, Rent Girl).
Email Casey Lyons (ccl2) if you’d like to go.
9-10pm W-talk, Jenness 2nd Floor
This week’s discussion topic is: Masculinity.
W-talk gives bi-sexual, queer, gender-queer students, and students who may be questioning their gender and /or sexuality a confidential, judgment-free space where they can meet other students, sit back and listen or discuss issues in their lives. Contact: Justin Adkins, justin.adkins@williams.edu
Thursday:
5:30-7pm First-Year Pizza Dinner, Jenness
The first of four dinners hosted by the QSU for all first-year students interested in queer issues and queer life at Williams. This week’s discussion topic: The Queer Community At Williams.
Film Screenings and Public Talk with queer documentary filmmaker Sandi DuBowski, Images Cinema
-6:30PM Film Screening of Trembling Before G-d (2001)
The critically-acclaimed documentary that focuses on the lives of queer Orthodox and Hassidic Jews.
-8PM Public Talk, and Q&A Session with Sandi DuBowski
-9PM Film Screening of A Jihad for Love (2007)
A powerful documentary that chronicles the lives of gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims.
Friday:
6pm – 24 Hour Queer Movie Marathon begins, Hardy House
24 hours of queer movies! Stop by Hardy House living room. Drop by for your favorite film or stay the through the night. Snacks and coffee galore!
Saturday:
6pm – 24 Hour Queer Movie Marathon ends
Sunday:
8pm Keeping the Faith, Chaplains Office (Paresky 2nd Floor)
Keeping the Faith is a new open discussion space for spiritually-oriented queers and their supporters to explore, affirm and seek to integrate the totality of who we are. Confidential drop-in meetings will occur 8-9pm every Sunday in the Chaplain’s office. People of all faith backgrounds and sexual orientations/gender identities are more than welcome to attend. Contact ccl2 or gmj1 for more information.
1 year anniversary of GSRC!!!
1. This week the GSRC is celebrating its one year anniversary with a series of events. See details below!
2. Wanted: Queer art! We need some decorations for the GSRC open house…please reply if you’d like to contribute (drawings, photos, paintings, sculptures….). If you have an image file or written work that can be emailed, just send it directly to gmj1.
3. The Williams College Democrats are organizing a phone bank to repeal DADT, come by Paresky 114 between 6-7pm on Wednesday to make phone calls to key Senators.
Meetings and Events:
TODAY:
>8-9pm QSU meeting, Hardy House
Join us for the last *official* meeting of the year. No agenda…just hot cocoa and socializing. Bring work if you want to feel productive 
Wednesday:
>6-7 pm Calls to repeal DADT, Paresky 114
Join with the Williams College Democrats and the QSU in the effort to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. This Wednesday, stop by Paresky 114 between 6-7pm to make phone calls to key Senators in the debate to abolish this outdated and discriminatory policy. We will have call sheets and scripts, all we need is you, your cellphone, and the conviction that all Americans should be allowed to serve in our nation’s military, regardless of their sexual orientation.
>9pm W-talk (Topic: Gay/Queer Siblings)
Meets in the GSRC (2nd floor Jenness). Facilitated by Justin Adkins (justin.adkins@williams.edu).
Thursday:
>7-8:30pm Sex Jam in Jenness, brought to you by the GSRC and the Health Center
>9 pm “Coming Out, Going Home” Discussion in Justin’s Office, 2nd floor Jenness
Friday:
>4-6 pm GSRC Open House
>7-8pm SpeakFree Fall Show, Paresky Auditorium
>8:30 NBC/SANKOFA Fall Show in Goodrich omg
>10ish Hardy Haus, ra ra-ah-ah-ah…
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Friday November 19th 7-8pm Williams College and people in the Berkshires, will honor those who have lost their lives due to their gender identity or gender expression. Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
To find out more about those who have lost their lives please go here: http://www.transgenderdor.org/?page_id=1194
We will meet in front of the Paresky Student Center at 7pm.
Response to recent LGBTQ deaths in the news
As many of you are starting to see in the news there seems to be a lot of gay teens passing away in the past few weeks. Everyday I am receiving messages about homophobic incidents and deaths at college and high school campuses, via the listservs I am on. As we head into Coming Out Week here at Williams, and National Coming Out Day on the 11th, this seems to be especially disturbing news.
My personal coming out story is directly linked to the tragic suicides of the only 2 queer people I knew at the time. When I heard of my friends’ passing I could not stay in the closet any longer. I had to let my truth be told, be out in the world, otherwise I saw that my fate might soon be the same as theirs. I tell you this because I want you to know that I am no stranger to suicide, and suicidal thoughts. You are not alone.
LGBTQ Teen suicide is not a new thing. It is, in my opinion, one of the most devastating disasters to the LGBTQ community. Speaking the truth is rarely easy, speaking the truth about your sexuality is especially difficult.
I wanted to email you all because I want you to know that you have support here at Williams.
We have a wonderful policy regarding therapy, it is FREE! (Once you leave here you will realize what a wonderful thing this is)
If you need to talk, I am available via cell phone 24 hours (413) 822-4892, and I and the rest of the MCC am available to meet in person, just ask.
There are also other people you can speak with,I know of professors, coaches, and students, who would be more than willing to sit with you.
Last, but not least, our amazing chaplains. They are all LGBTQ friendly, and knowledgeable.
I want to leave you with a link to a video project started by Dan Savage, who happens to be coming to speak at Williams on October 25th! In the wake of these tragedies he grabbed his husband and sat in front of a camera to tell you that it does get better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfZhjUVlWE
justin adkins
Assistant Director, MCC
Williams College
————————————————————————————-
justin.l.adkins@williams.edu
W-Talk starts TONIGHT!
Questioning, or queer? W-Talk is a new Confidential, judgment-free space to discuss sexuality.
When: Wednesday September 22 9pm
Where: GSRC (in Jenness House) More Info? jla1
W-Talk gives bi-sexual, queer, gender-queer students, and students who may be questioning their gender and/or their sexuality a confidential, judgment-free space where they can meet other students, sit back and listen, or discuss issues in their lives.
Sometimes we will have a topic. Most times we will just chat. We will always have snacks!
Asexuality
Great information about Asexuality at Bilerico (http://www.bilerico.com/2010/09/asexuality_exists.php)
Welcome to College, Welcome to Queer*dot*Williams
This little site has been up for a while – it’s got links to a bunch of useful resources, it got a nice design and a sweet url – but nobody reads it. Well, that’s going to change this year.
For all the people on the QSU listserv – this site will help unclog your inbox. You’ll still get emails about campus events, but political issues, scholarship opportunities and opinion pieces will all be here. Events will be here too, in an easier-to-find format than email.
For everyone else – prospective students, alumni, students who missed the Purple Key Fair, students who “don’t do” student group listservs, you can finally satisfy your curiosity about our gay agenda!
Look forward to frequent updates and all sorts of new goodies you won’t be able to find anywhere else!
Events
- Tuesday 21st – First General Meeting from 8-9
Come by Hardy House (in Morely Circle behind the Science Quad – yeah, the building with the big Queer Pride banner) to meet incredibly sexy Williams queer folk. In addition to many attractive individuals, there will be food, games and info about QSU board elections and upcoming events. Bring yourself, bring your friends, bring some enthusiasm for the great year to come!
- I ♥ LGBTQ shirts for sale – $5
The general meeting would be a great chance to get one of these supremely stylish tee’s for yourself, or a second one for your grandma or your dog. At the moment there’s only M, L and XL in stock, but if enough people ask for size Small, we might re-order sometime during the year.
From President Falk
Below is a message from President Falk in response to an article posted in the New York Times a few weeks ago (someone sent it over the listserve, but here it is just in case – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/education/25books-t.html?_r=2).
Feel free to post/write comments, to here or to President Falk himself (aff1@williams.edu). He sent this to me without any prompt or letter regarding the article from my end.
- Mike
———————————————
Questioning the Need for a Queer Life Coordinator?
By Adam Falk
Timed to coincide with the publishing of their book criticizing higher education, Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus, recently had an essay run in The New York Times Education Supplement.
Perhaps inadvertently, the essay, titled “Administrative Glut,” does Williams the favor of publicizing our commitment to the position of Queer Life Coordinator – one of several positions and offices at Williams that the authors imply the
College could do without.
But, of course, to do without them would be to abandon what Williams is: a vibrant community working to enable all of its members to live, learn, and thrive. That we won’t do.
As wrongheaded as I find their analysis, I hope the authors continue to help us spread this word.
College Team Teaches a Lesson in Acceptance
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/sports/09oneonta.html?src=me
College Team Teaches a Lesson in Acceptance
By Katie Thomas
ONEONTA, N.Y. — The Oneonta men’s lacrosse team marched two by two onto the field, sticks held with purpose for the final home game of the season. Beneath their helmets, the players flashed hard looks and cheeks smeared with eye black.
Tough and menacing is the team’s reputation around this State University of New York campus in the foothills of the Catskills. Even Dan Mahar, the head coach, acknowledges his players are viewed as a bit “rough around the edges.”
But this season, the team is developing a new reputation — as models of tolerance — after one of its captains announced in an online essay in February that he was gay. The senior, Andrew McIntosh, said he had not heard a single disparaging comment from his teammates.
“I was embraced with open arms,” he said. “I had teammates come up and give me handshakes, and people saying it takes a lot of guts to do that.”
Read More…