From: tdbear@tandon.com (Tom Barrett)
Subject: Re: A good solution to gay youth difficulties is speaking gigs.
Organization: Tandon Corporation, Moorpark, CA
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 17:14:46 GMT

In an article jefu@nmt.edu (Jeff Putnam) writes:

>I saw one guy torching our posters (lighting them while still on
>the walls - or in one case on a glass door).

At your next meeting, discuss buying or borrowing (even from
the school) a polaroid and then having multiple people
(safety in numbers) stake out a particular area.  When someone
trahes your posters, then take a snap shot.  Then bring the
evidence to the Dean and/or the student body (it also helps to
have your faculty advisor for the group on your side).

>Was told (by the dean of students) that
>freedom of expression was very important and that nothing could
>be done.

This is very true... there were a lots of Universities which
tried to inact a policy which prohibits hate (this just can't
be done).  HOWEVER! A university is free to enact (and should)
a policy which says (1) that hate is not conducive to
education, and (2) that they will not give a platform to
anyone practicing hate (the 1st admendment does not grant a
person the platform from which to speak).

If you really want to push this, you might want to write a
letter to the editor of your student newspaper and tell of
your run-ins as well as the seemingly uncaring, apparently
ignorant, and possibly homophic attitude of
your Dean.

>I dont really remember - except it was horrible.  But somehow
>I've managed to forget most of my life before the age of 19 or
>so.  (I mean, its GONE.)

Gone, yes, but what about all those g/l youth who are still
struggling under the same pressures and agony which you may
have experienced.  Don't forget them as those who preceeded
you may have forgotten you.

>I've done this in the past, but I really dont think it would
>fly in Socorro.  We have talked about it, but I think the
>chances of getting into the local high school are pretty remote.

Most of the time, it is NOT actually getting there that is the
most important thing.  It is paving the way for others who
will follow later, AND getting the word out that such a group
even exists.  I have heard sooooo many times from g/l youth
and college students that the mere existance of g/l groups
sometimes made the difference in their lifes to hang in
there... they would never have gone to a meeting or added
their vote to have a group speak, but they needed such a group
all the more.

One final note: Do a little research into all of the
corporations which donate to your school (especially in the
research grants which are typically handled by the individual
departments and/or professors).  You might find a company ally
which you could politely mention to the Dean as being one
which might be upset with the anti-gay stance that he (as the
university) has taken.

-- 
Tom Barrett (TDBear)    tdbear@tandon.com                 voice 805-378-6207
Tandon Corporation      tdbear@p6.f1006.n102.z1.fidonet.org fax 805-529-8895
Sr. HW Design Engineer  "War is Peace, No is Yes, And We're All Free!" 
[The views expressed herein may not be shared by the organization of origin]
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