GLFSA Year-End Report: 1997-98

Compiled and written by: Sally McWilliams

Mission Statement:

In 1996-97 we adopted the following mission statement as a way to formalize our purpose and to share this information with the campus community:

We represent the diverse community of Gay and Lesbian persons of MSU faculty and staff. One mission of MSU is to establish a community where diversity is welcomed, encouraged, and supported. Lesbian and Gay individuals are part of that diversity. There is a need to foster understanding through education and outreach about the lives and concerns of Gays and Lesbians in order to reduce fear, prejudice, and discrimination.

Recognizing this need, the GAY AND LESBIAN FACULTY AND STAFF ASSOCIATION seeks to

Foster a safe and comfortable environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered students, faculty, and staff;
Educate the University community about the lives and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals;
Provide positive role models of openly identified gay and lesbian faculty and staff as a support system for other gay and lesbian faculty and staff and students;
Advocate for and facilitate the inclusion of lesbian and gay lives and concerns in academic pursuits such as research, curriculum development, and cultural programming;
Advocate for gay and lesbian issues within the structure of the University, e.g., University policy and personnel issues; and
Create a forum to respond to issues of concern to lesbians and gays in the wider community.

Background:

GLFSA came into existence during the 1995-96 academic year as a campus support and educational outreach group for MSU faculty, staff and administrators. In our first two years, we organized National Coming Out Day celebrations; an on-campus video series and a film screening; we hosted and/or co-sponsored visits of gay and lesbian speakers and film directors to campus; we continued our membership in the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition; and strengthened our visibility as an association on campus.

Membership:

Dues are $25 per person annually. Financial records are available from Sally McWilliams.

Subcommittees (with contact people)

Safe Place Program: Elaine Fine and Sally McWilliams
Domestic Partnership: Pat Hewitt and Gil Zicklin
MHS liaisons: George Santiago and Elaine Schenkel
GLFSA Homepage: Pat Hewitt
New Faculty Program: Sally McWilliams
Psychological Services and Wellness Center: Mark Koppel
GLB events: Alicia Cipria, Sally McWilliams, Elaine Schenkel, George Santiago

Projects/Affiliations:

GLFSA renewed its membership in the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition in the interest of networking with other gay/lesbian organizations.
Safe Place Program (SPP): Co-chairs Elaine Fine and Sally McWilliams developed and established the SPP during this academic year. Please refer to attached subcommittee report.

MHS Outreach: A group of GLFSA members met with the Gay/Straight Alliance at Montclair High School to establish a working relationship between the two groups. Elaine Schenkel coordinated a visit by the MHS Gay/Straight Alliance to a MSU classroom screening of the video "It's Elementary."

Affirmative Action Committee: At the 11/19/97 meeting, the University Senate of MSU approved the addition of a GLFSA member to sit on the President's Affirmative Action Committee.

Members volunteered to work with "Women Raise the Roof," an affiliated group of Habitat for Humanity.

GLFSA made a monetary contribution to the MSU Child Care Center during its annual fundraising drive.

Presidential Search Committee: GLFSA contributed an interview question for the Presidential Search process that focused on the candidate's attitudes on and contributions to issues affecting the gay and lesbian college population.

Contribution to GLFSA: Interim President Waters generously contributed monies for the purchase of educational videos and pamphlets for use by GLFSA.

Campus Events:

Third Annual National Coming Out Day celebration, 10/9/97, included flag raising ceremony reading of the President's proclamation on diversity; introduction to the Safe Place Program, a panel of invited guest speakers with moderator to discuss issues of coming out, and a panel of community-based organizations (including members of PFLAG, representatives from the GLB & Friends Association of Jersey City State College, and the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project community organizer). The events were covered by the MSU student newspaper The Montclarion and the local paper The Record.

Harriet Malinowitz, 4/14/98: co-sponsored guest speaker Harriet Malinowitz who spoke to a group of 50 students and faculty on issues of sexuality and pedagogy.

Daniel Harris, 4/21/98: co-sponsored guest speaker Daniel Harris, author of The Rise and Fall of Gay Culture. Mr. Harris' talk was entitled "The End of Diversity? Assimilation and Resistance in the Gay Subculture"; the talk had some 60 people in attendance.

Ongoing Projects for 1998-99

Maintenance and development of Safe Place Program

Completion and distribution of resource guide being compiled by Wellness Center

Dissemination of Curriculum Survey

Design and implementation of a GLFSA website

Organization of 4th Annual National Coming Out Day celebration

Cosponsor event or project with MHS Gay/Straight Alliance.

Questions, comments, & corrections are welcome - contact the GLFSA

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Montclair State University
Upper Montclair, New Jersey, USA