UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 25, Page 5
March 24, 1994
Symposium April 22 to focus on campus sexual climate

     A variety of issues will be examined at "Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals
on Campus: A Symposium on Campus Climate," scheduled Friday, April 22, in
Arsht Hall in Wilmington.
     Keynote speaker will be William G. Tierney, professor and senior
scientist at the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Pennsylvania
State University. Speaking at 8:30 a.m., he will discuss "Cultural Politics
and Sexual Identity: Equal Rights and Equal Protection."
     Two sessions of contributed papers will be presented for the remainder
of the morning, from 9:30-11:30 a.m..
     One session will include "A Survey of College Students' Attitudes
Towards and Beliefs About Homosexuality" by D.K. Boland and D.G. Mossler of
the Department of Psychology, Longwood College in Virginia; "Lesbigay
Materials in the College Classroom: A Lesson from Rhetoric" by Joseph
Marchesani of Pennsylvania State University; "Historizing Outsiders on
Campus: The Re-production of Lesbian and Gay Insiders" by Kathleen O'Mara,
professor and chair of the Department of Women's Studies at State
University College, Oneonta, N.Y.; and "Hunter College's Diversity
Requirement" by Kenneth Sherrill, professor, of political science and chair
of the Faculty Senate at Hunter College in New York.
     A second session will examine "'Desired Under the Elms': Necessary
(and Obvious?) Components of a Lesbigay Agenda for American Colleges and
Universities" by James Toy, co-coordinator of the Lesbian-Gay Male Programs
Office at the University of Michigan; "Heterosexism, Homophobia and Gender
Discrimination Colluding/Colliding Within the Ivory Tower" by Karen
Asquith, Jeri L. Carter and Jerri L. Frantzve from the Department of
Psychology at Radford University in Virginia; "A Script for Hate: The
Social World of Religious Bigotry" by David M. Bossman, professor of
Jewish-Christian studies at Seton Hall University in New Jersey; and "Going
to Court for Life-Partner Benefits: Options When Your University Just Won't
Budge" by William E. Mayo, professor of mechanics and materials science,
College of Engineering, and James D. Anderson, associate dean and
professor, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, and
chairperson of the President's Select Committee for Lesbian and Gay
Concerns, both at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
     "Setting a Campus Agenda" will be the topic of the 11:30 a.m. luncheon
address by Daryl Hellman, executive vice provost, and Marilyn Cairns,
special assistant to the provost, both at Northeastern University in
Massachusetts.
     At 1 p.m., "A Report on the Campus Climate at the University of
Delaware" will be presented by Margaret L. Andersen, vice provost for
academic affairs at the University.
     Round table discussions will begin at 2 p.m. on the following topics:

        * "Curriculum Issues," with a paper by James F. Lee-VanPatten,
          associate professor of Spanish and director of lesbian, gay,
          bisexual concerns at the University of Illinois, on "Toward
          Inclusivity: Consciousness Raising Activities for TA
          Orientation";
        * "Discrimination/Harassment," with a paper by James P. Goodwin,
          career services, and Penelope A. Portman, School of Physical
          Education, both Ball State University in Indiana, on "SAFE on
          Campus";
        * "Partner Benefits," chaired by James D. Anderson and William E.
          Mayo of Rutgers University,
        * "Coming Out," with a paper by Raymond A. Smith, Columbia
          University in New York, on "Advising Students on Coming Out:
          Issues and Approaches";
        * "Lesbian Issues," chaired by Karen Asquith, Center for Gender
          Studies at Radford University in Virginia; and
        * "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Centers: How To Get
          One, How To Staff One and What To Do With One Once You Get It,"
          chaired by Beth Zemski, coordinator, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
          Transgender Program Office, University of Minnesota, and Curt
          Shepard, campus project coordinator, National Gay and Lesbian
          Task Force in Washington, D.C. This round table discussion will
          include two contributed papers "Our Place on Campus: Penn's L/G/B
          Program" by Robert Schoenberg, coordinator, and Elizabeth Storz,
          program assistant, Program for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual
          Community at the University of Pennsylvania; and "The Campus
          Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual Resource Center: A Student Services
          Approach for Creating a Welcoming Institution" by Heather R.
          Wishik, director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resource Center, Tufts
          University in Massachusetts.

     The closing session-a panel discussion about the lesbian, gay,
bisexual agenda for American colleges and universities-will be moderated by
Hilton Brown and Cynthia Cummings, co-chairs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
Concerns Caucus at the University of Delaware.
     Pre-registration deadline for this symposium is Friday, April 8. Costs
are $5 for undergraduate students, $15 for graduate students, $35 for UD
professionals and $45 for off-campus professionals. After April 8,
registration fees for all but undergraduate students will increase by $5.
     For information, call 831-8735.