Date: Mon, 20 Feb 1995 22:00:55 -0800 From: John.M.Blandford.2@nd.edu (Blandford) All - Thanks for all your support thusfar. My apologies for not yet getting back to many of you in a more personal manner, but I'm afraid those laboring in the bowels of Our Lady have kept us hopping here. The good news is that rumblings may be heard. Support is being found in many quarters despite/because of the administration's policy. Spread the word. Maintain the Pride, John Blandford ___________________________________________________ February 20, 1995 CONTACT: John Blandford 219.232.6332 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Notre Dame Council Rejects Defense of Gay Policy NOTRE DAME, IN -- The Campus Life Council of the University of Notre Dame voted this afternoon to oppose the recent move by university administrators to expel a campus gay group from a facility long open to its use. The vote followed an extended defense of the policy by Vice President for Student Affairs Patricia O'Hara. O'Hara's appearance before the Council was prompted by a by the same body passed two weeks ago. The previous resolution demanded that O'Hara to present herself to defend the Office of Student Affairs' policy toward Gays and Lesbians of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College (GLND/SMC). The gay group's applications for recognition as a student group have been repeatedly rejected by O'Hara's office over the last decade. The university had however allowed the group to use one room in the University Counseling Center. 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 where it had been housed for nearly nine years. Gay and lesbian student leaders at Notre Dame interpreted the university's policy shift to be a punitive response to GLND/SMC's increasing openness and its success this academic year in bringing several prominent speakers to the Notre Dame campus, including New Republic editor Andrew Sullivan and "Philadelphia" screenwriter Ron Nyswaner. During today's two-hour discussion, Vice President O'Hara defended the university's action and GLND/SMC co-chair John Blandford argued for the gay group's full integration into the Notre Dame community. The council ultimately voted to adopt a resolution "to strongly oppose the administration's action to expel GLND/SMC from campus" and "to call upon the administration 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 13-2 with one abstention. The opposing votes were cast by O'Hara's assistant William Kirk and by Rev. George Rozum, a Holy Cross priest and hall rector. The Campus Life Council, a representative body comprised of student government officials, residence hall rectors, faculty members and administrators, is one of the most powerful bodies at Notre Dame. Resolutions passed by a two-thirds majority require a response by the Vice President for Student Affairs within seven days' time. In the absence of a timely public response, the council is empowered by the board of trustees to set policy for Notre Dame. Today's resolution parallels those by the Graduate Student Council and the undergraduate Student Senate. Both of these bodies also passed resolutions by overwhelming margins. Notre Dame's Faculty Senate will take up the issue on March 9 and has requested that O'Hara and Special Advisor to the President Rev. Richard Warner present themselves for questions prior to a vote.