By Christian Mignot
Daily Bruin Contributor
The launching of a new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Student Empowerment Project, including a national Day of Action on
Queer Resources on April 10, was the topic of discussion among the
United States Student Association board of directors this
weekend.
The goals of the campaign include providing a safer campus
environment and resources for LGBT students, hiring more LGBT staff
and faculty and increasing retention rates among these
students.
“It is very important for universities to address the
needs of queer students,” said Caeden Dempsey, director of
the LGBT Student Empowerment Project. “Otherwise, we are
limiting the accessibility of many people to higher
education.”
The project will demand the improvement or establishment of LGBT
resource centers and will help train campus groups to secure better
funding and full-time staff for these centers. The staff provides
indispensable support for LGBT students, especially with regards to
coming out in public, which can be very difficult, Dempsey
said.
“UCLA already has a great LGBT center,” said
third-year history student Christopher Neal, chair of the National
Queer Students of Color Caucus of USSA. “Many other schools,
however, do not have the equivalent, so this project will really
help them get up and running.”
USSA is calling for greater protection of LGBT students against
hate crimes. Establishing training programs to teach students how
to deal with homophobic abuse is essential, Dempsey said.
To achieve higher retention rates, USSA will seek to provide
better support services to LGBT students.
“There are many obstacles that often cause LGBT students
to drop out of college,” said Liz Geyer, a member of the
USSA’s advisory board. “These may take the form of hate
crimes, personal safety concerns, difficult living climates in
on-campus housing or simply anxiety over coming out.”
The project will push for the establishment of training programs
to educate resident assistants about creating safer living climates
for LGBT students and methods of dealing with discrimination.
Though the needs of LGBT students are usually dealt with on a
case-by-case basis, Dempsey said, it is important for universities
to make LGBT amenities such as gender-neutral rest rooms regular
features in on-campus housing.
USSA plans to work in conjunction with the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network to make April 10 a Day of Silence.
Participants at colleges nationwide will take a nine-hour vow of
silence to push for the improvement or creation of support services
for LGBT students.