Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 18:33:41 -0500 (CDT)
From: "....DREALM...." <grantham@knuth.mtsu.edu>
Subject: Article from MTSU



	The genisis of a statewide campus organization seems well on the 
way under efforts of the Uniform Equality Committee of Middle Tennessee 
State UniversityThe UEC is the established political arm of Lambda Association
and has been active in organizing state campus groups on its recent 
project called the Tennessee Campus Index (TCI).
	The website provides a link to each gay/lesibian/bisexual student 
group through the internet or a contact phone number and address for those 
that are not yet online. The site was completed at the end of 1995 and 
the UEC is beginging to take it a step further.
	"The Tennessee Campus Index is the first step in having a 
constant communication network, free of charge, not only between TN 
campus organizations but those of all other states as well," says Devon 
Wlodyga, a freshman UEC member and TCI project co-ordinator.
	The idea to organize groups across the state comes from the UEC's 
own effort to enhance Middle Tennessee State University's 
nondiscrimination policy to include the category of "sexual orientation."
Similiar efforts have been pursued at the University of Memphis in 
previous years with no outside communication to other state groups.
	The issue promises to remain a hot topic as long as MTSU
Administrators consistently avoid proactive steps taking by numerous 
other institutions across the country. The UEC has provided MTSU with a 
number of documents since August of 1995 to aid in properly handling this 
emerging state issue.
	State gay/les/bi groups are active in Lousiana and are begining 
in North Carolina according the Wlodyga. As a co-ordinator of South 
Eastern campus contacts on the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Campus 
Project national homepage, Wlodyga says that state organization will be 
essential as issues of civil rights begin to move to the forefront of gay 
and lesbian student politics across the South East and especially in TN.
	"A state group is definitly in its infancy with this project. 
Besides sharing information, it will by shear numbers be able to affect 
policy in TN's public and private University systems," Wlodyga adds.
	As it stands, the TCI is operational with the only active website 
being that of MTSU's Lambda Association. Efforts to help organize 
websites for other groups will begin within weeks. Wlodyga says that six 
campus groups in Tennessee have information posted on the TCI about their 
own campus group activities.
	Wlodyga says that he hopes a state group can crystalize by the 
end of the year. "We would try to expand the UEC's efforts into other 
campuses. Hopefully by the time it has formed MTSU will have attained the 
UEC's goal of adding sexual orientation into the nondiscrimination policy 
at MTSU."
	The UEC's efforts may realistically take some years to accomplish 
as far as a policy change, but the statewide campus group may aid in 
bringin about a statewide change in the anticipated time frame expressed 
by Wlodyga.
	Currently, the TCI offers email, phone and address contact 
information for six campus groups across the state with a national link 
to other state groups. The MTSU Lambda site provides an ideal and 
detailed listing of important information about the group. Wlodyga hopes 
to share MTSU's energy to help other groups establish their own sites.
	"If knowlegde is power and communication is the sharing of 
knowledge, then setting up the Tennessee Campus Index is in reality the 
beginning of empowerment for gay/lesbian/bisexual students in Tennessee," 
Wlodyga says.
	Campus groups are encouraged to contact Devon Wlodyga about this 
project at 780-2293 or email phys0007@frank.mtsu.edu for more 
information.