Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 23:15:50 -0800
From: John.M.Blandford.2@nd.edu (Blandford)
Attention all -

A rally to demonstrate support for lesbian, gay and bisexual members of the
Notre Dame/St. Mary's community, and to oppose the Notre Dame
administration's expulsion of GLND/SMC (Gays and Lesbians of Notre Dame and
St. Mary's College) from the campus and its intransigence on the issue of
recognizing GLND/SMC has been planned for THURSDAY, MARCH 2 AT 12:15 PM. 
The text below is taken from a flyer that was tonight placed under the
doors of each faculty member and graduate assistant.  The undergraduate
residence halls were leafleted with announcements as well, with a notice of
the rally being placed under the door of each student that lives on campus.
 If you're in the area, please come; if not, hold us in your thoughts.

Many thanks,

John Blandford
Kelly Smith
  co-chairs

____________________


To all Faculty and Staff Members,


        Despite the objections and concerns of the Graduate Student
Council, the Campus Life Council, the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate,
the Hall Presidents' Council, the Graduate Theological Union, the Center
for Social Concerns, Pax Christi, Amnesty International, and numerous Notre
Dame and St. Mary's students and alumni, as well as organizations,
students, and faculty from other institutions, the administration has
expressed its determination to deny official recognition for gay and
lesbian students, faculty, and staff of the university.  It has been made
clear that when the university speaks, the administration need not listen.
        In her address to the Campus Life Council on February 20, Patty
O'Hara insisted that the administration "is not denying, ignoring, or
denigrating gays and lesbians"(The Observer, Feb. 21, p. 1).  Yet, the
administration's denial of the rights, dignity, and recognition of gays and
lesbians proves false such a claim.  Furthermore, in the meeting she also
proved empty her assertion to be open to discussion and consideration of
suggestions on how to "better address the needs of our gay and lesbian
students"(Ibid., p. 4) when she rejected all proposed ideas from Council
members responding to her invitation for dialogue on this issue.
        It is now more crucial than ever that the students, faculty, and
staff who constitute the Notre Dame and St. Mary's community come together
and voice their objection to the administration's position on this issue,
and emphasize their support and recognition of the dignity and rights that
lesbians and gays deserve as human beings.
        In response to the administration's refusal to listen to the
university, a rally has been organized on Thursday, March 2nd between 12:15
and 12:45 p.m. so that students, faculty, and staff can unite and make
their voices heard.  It is essential that faculty and staff who support the
dignity and rights of all members of the Notre Dame-St. Mary's community
act as leaders by attending the rally and encouraging their students and
fellow faculty and staff to participate.  This peaceful rally has been
scheduled to take place at the Fieldhouse Mall (Stonehenge), and we hope
that faculty and staff will assume the lead in walking with students and
colleagues to this location.
        As faculty and staff the influence you have on students is
undeniable.  By actively voicing your support for gays and lesbians at
Notre Dame and St. Mary's, you will not only be educators, but leaders.

Help prove that the Notre Dame-St. Mary's community is one which
does not foster ignorance, hatred, or narrow-mindedness.




organized by a group of concerned students, faculty, & staff