Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sganet
Date:         Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:18:15 EST
From:         Kenneth A Gideon <gideon@CS.ODU.EDU>
Subject: Re: LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS

Robert Kelly writes:
 > Hello,
 >         I am a member of the Student government here in Valdosta Georgia.  We
 ar
 > e
 >  currently looking for the solution to two interesting problems:
 >         1.  The city government would like to create a zoning law that would
 for
 > bid
 >  more than three non related people from living in the same house.  The
 reason
 >  behind this is because they believe it would cut down on parking problems
 and
 >  noise in neighborhoods..  We would like some advice on solving this problem.
 >  At the current time we have no committees on external relations but the
 >  President of SGA is planning to go to the next city council meeting.
Robert, I am afraid that with all of the experiences that I have had, I can not
help you with this particular problem.

 >         2.  Soon we are voting on the acceptance of a Gay and Lesbian club on
 ca
 > mpus.
 >  We would like to know if anyone has had any trouble with this.
 >
 >
 > Answers from anyone would be helpful.
 > Nick Kelly Valdosta State College

In response to this question, I can be of great benefit to your SGA.  Here at
Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student
Union has been recognized for almost 7 years now.  In regards to troubles,
there have been occassions of verbal harassment towards several of the members
of the GLBSU.  In response to some of the verbal abuse our GLBSU members had
to endure, our University, with almost 100% unanimous support for our president
adopted a University amendment which probhibited discrimination based on
sexual orientation.  There has been wide spread support on our main campus, as
well as a moderate amount of support on our three satelite campuses.  (In case
you are not familiar with Old Dominion University, we have about 17,500
students this year, and it is predicted to be close to 22,000 students by 1995.

We, as a student body, strongly believe in equal rights for all, and we do our
best to practice what we preach.  We even have senators who regularly attend
GLBSU meetings and support group meetings to see if there is anything that we
as a government can do.  Sadly enough, we believe that there will never be
a complete anniahlation of homophobia, just as there will more than likely
never be a complete ellimination of racisim.  These beliefs, however, will not
hinder us in trying to strive for that idealistic goal.  We can try our best
and we will make it work.

I would just advise you to recognize the organization, and try and understand
where they are coming from.  It is not easy for a lot of people to face
homosuxuality in the open, so they hide behind their fears.  I think it is an
important step that you are considering this measure, but just try and talk
to the members before you make a decision.

Besides, if you look at what President Clinton is planning, it is highly likely
that if you do not recognize the Gay and Lesbian organization at your school,
you may have a legal battle on your hands within the next several years that
you will probably lose.

Ken Gideon
Old Dominion University Student Senate |  Executive Director,
Chairman, Student Services Committee   |  Student Association of Virginia
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