tl19890504-000 "Vol. 82 No. 24 ""Required Reading"" May 4, 1989 The Towerii Published weekly by the students of Towson State University k Coming out Students seek acceptance of alternate lifestyles OM by Dawn Lyons Features editor omophobia exists on campus. Ask the janitorial staff that paints over hate-filled graffiti every semester. Ask Dr. Hoke Smith, who addressed the issue of homophobia along with racism and sexism in his fall address. And ask Jan Sherrill, direc-tor of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Campus Violence, who cites a TSU incident a few years ago in which a gay student was gang-raped by several male students. ht MD 21204 This incident, says Sherrill, was not reported by the gay Sherrill's student, but was brought to attention by another student who would not name the victim involved. ""Anti-gay and lesbian violence is one of the most underreported crimes in the country,"" Sherrill says. ""Gay and lesbians are afraid to report crime against them for fear of retaliation or public identification as gay or lesbian."" In fact, this gay victim never came forward and charges were never brought against the students who committed the crime. Though this incident and others, the Student Affairs division became aware of increasing campus violence and in 1985 the Center for the Study and Prevention of Campus Violence was established. The center became funded in July 1988. In 1986 another prominent anti-gay action occurred. A huge sign ""Stop AIDS, kill a fag"" was hung in a dorm room window of Residence Tower A. Gary Coberly, a art history administrative assistant called Dr. Smith who stated the sign would be taken down and the students reprimanded. But, according to Sherrill, the students were merely ""counselled."" Sherrill says, ""A Black person on Student Affairs said the incident shows how acceptable anti-gay sentiment is on campus. She stated,' At least the KKK has the shame to hide their heads with sheets. These students hung the sign in their own dorm room window.' Though the gang-rape and the sign may be extreme incidents, Sherrill reports consistent complaints of obscene telephone calls, threatening notes on doors, and harassment of not only gay and lesbian students, but black, Jewish, and female students. ""We had to be educated to what constitutes violence,"" says Sherrill. ""Violence can be other things than the obvious punching of one's nose, including harassment."" To combat harassment & homophobia( an intense fear and hatred of homosexuals)a nd to study gay and lesbian issues on campus, a Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Issues was formed in 1988. One of the recommendations of the Task.Force was to appoint a standing committee ""to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people."" The Task Force became this committee. Committee goals include educating the community (dispelling homophobia), assuring gays and lesbians are given the same access to resources, and establishing a Gay and Lesbian drop-in center under the aegis of student services like the Women's Center and the Afro-American Cultural Center. Dean Marion Hoffman of the Office for Student Develop- ment says, ""Space and money are a problem."" Some members of the Committee,which includes both straight and gay people, are the Chair of the Committee and Director of Special Projects Tracy Miller, Sherrill, Hoffman, and Craig and Thom, two gay students active in both GALO and campus Gay and Lesbian Get-Togethers. See PHOBIA, page 8 INSIDE Smith Hall scientists prepare ""cold fusion"" experiment. Health center reports surge in sexually transmitted diseases. Page 2 TSU student appears in jeopardy college championship. Cyclists prepare for cross country fundraiser. A look at the University Police. Page 8 Kerrin Mohr's pitching leads softball to 20-8 record. Tigers face Johns Hopkins in lacrosse season finale Saturday at Minnegan Stadium. Page 18 EXAM SCHEDULE. Page 14 "
