Date:         Fri, 10 Feb 1995 11:18:06 -0500
Reply-To: John.M.Blandford.2@nd.edu

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February 9, 1995

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Representative Bodies Decry
Notre Dame's Gay Policy

NOTRE DAME, IN -- Adding to the growing criticism of the University of
Notre Dame's decision to bar a group of lesbian and gay students from
further use of university facilities, representative bodies have acted to
support the group and to condemn the university's policy.  The Campus Life
Council and the undergraduate Student Senate have this week passed
resolutions supporting Gays and Lesbians of Notre Dame and St. Mary's
College (GLND/SMC); these actions follow upon a resolution passed last week
by Notre Dame's Graduate Student Council.
        On January 23 the group was informed by officials in the Office of
Student Affairs that it would no longer be allowed to use the room in the
University Counseling Center where it had been housed for nearly nine
years.  The university has resisted repeated attempts to the group's effort
to gain official recognition as a campus group, but has long allowed it to
meet in the counseling center.  The university's move has been interpreted
as a response to the group's increasing openness and its success in
bringing several prominent speakers to the Notre Dame campus, including New
Republic editor Andrew Sullivan and "Philadelphia" screenwriter Ron
Nyswaner.
        The undergraduate Student Senate yesterday voted to "strongly
condemn the University's action to expel GLND/SMC from campus" and called
upon the university to "recognize GLND/SMC as an integral part of the Notre
Dame community deserving of all rights and privileges afforded other campus
groups."  The resolution passed with a 14-1 majority, with one abstention.
The Student Senate's action is essentially identical to that taken last
week by the Graduate Student Council, where the measure passed 21-0 with
two abstentions.
        On Monday, the Campus Life Council, a body comprised of student
government officials, residence hall rectors, faculty members and
administrators passed a resolution by a 13-2 margin (with one abstention)
"to recognize, support and respect the efforts of GLND/SMC."  The council
also voted 15-1 to call before it Vice-President for Student Affairs
Patricia O'Hara to explain why the GLND/SMC's attempts to gain recognition
as a campus group have been repeatedly denied.  The council is one of the
more powerful on campus, and resolutions passed by a two-thirds majority
require a response by the Vice President for Student Affairs within seven
days' time.  Defeated was a resolution condemning the university's action
as many of the members sought to delay a decision until O'Hara had appeared
before the council next Monday.  The measure failed to get the needed
two-thirds majority as eight members voted in favor, three opposed and five
abstained.

"Americans are more uptight about homosexuality than about any other
subject.  Being open about homosexuality destroys the possibility of being
furtive about sexuality in general.  And sexuality in America has always
had to be furtive."
                                                - James Baldwin

"Work your 'do, don't let your 'do work you"
                                                - Charlie Robinson