Torn down posters. Vandalism. Death threats from off-campus sources.
These are some of the constant forms of abuse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students say they are being forced to deal with after becoming more outspoken in their pursuit of acceptance.
The issue of these threats and cases of vandalism were addressed by a joint letter to the editor in last week’s Mirror by Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Tom Pellegrino, Dean of Student Development Deborah Cady Melzer and Sr. Associate Dean and Director of Student Activities Matthew Dinnan.
Assistant Director of Public Safety Frank Ficko did not comment on whether these incidents received special attention from Public Safety, but acknowledged that they fall under the same categorization of all types of vandalism around campus.
‘The Department of Public Safety requests that any and all incidents of vandalism should be reported to DPS immediately,’ said Ficko. ‘We also ask that anyone with information’ regarding the person[s] responsible for defacing posters and bulletin boards to please come forward. We count on everyone within the community to serve as extra eyes and ears in helping to keep campus safe and as free from crime as possible.’
The letter from the Fairfield administrators acknowledged that ‘hateful’ actions toward LGBT students will not be tolerated, and it made it clear that the administration will stand behind them in their fight for universal acceptance around campus.
‘Acts in such an anonymous and hateful fashion do not encourage open dialogue of difference and undermine our educational mission committed to civil discourse,’ the letter stated. ‘As a Jesuit University, we are a community of scholarship and faith, anchored by a belief in the inherent dignity of each person.’
Cady Melzer said graffiti on different posters is the most frustrating problem because it is difficult to find the culprit. She said it was the consistent acts of vandalism that prompted her, Pellegrino, and Dinnan to write the letter.
‘Language is a particularly powerful act that can hurt and heal our community,’ she said.
‘As we continue to open the dialogue on LGBT concerns, I would hope that such language, jokes and acts of graffiti will be confronted by more members of our community. Such hateful language can really lead to greater acts of violence if we do not confront it.’
Jonas Stankovich ’10, the president of the Gay-Straight’ Alliance Club, said he received death threats via e-mail from people outside of the campus.
However, he reiterated the fact that this will not deter him from continuing on with his initiative.
‘Messages of hate simply reinforce the need for advocacy put forth by organizations like Alliance and programs like Project Halo,’ said Stankovich. ‘We can’t always stop people from hating, but we can always be there to promote love, acceptance and openness.’
Cristina Banahan ’11, president of the Vagina Warriors, an on-campus organization which champions woman’s rights, said she had not received any personal threats, but acknowledged that many of the posters for her club have been defaced or torn down.
‘It’s disappointing to see people that still think that way,’ she said. ‘The purpose of the flyers and the events is to promote peaceful gender equality and eliminate the intolerance that still exists within the community.’
Michael Cicirelli ’10, who recently spoke about his traumatic ordeals in high-school because of his sexual orientation as part of his Project Halo, said the threats and vandalism will not slow down the effort of the LGBT community.
‘Every negative comment I come across reinforces the notion that there needs to be a standard of education developed within the campus community and the community at large,’ he said. ‘If anything, the negative responses we get fuels me to go further.’
Pellegrino said the acts taken against the LGBT are not only against the school policy on harassment, but also against the Jesuit ideals of the institution. He agreed with Cady in unwavering support and protection of the on-campus LGBT groups and their leaders.
‘In speaking this past week with students, it is clear that these acts are demeaning and have created an environment where the students now feel they cannot, or do not want to – participate in these programs,’ he said, in reference to the LGBT students. ‘They have every right to, and they will be supported.’
Leave a Reply