Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 18:33:13 -0500 (CDT)
From: "....DREALM...." <grantham@knuth.mtsu.edu>
Subject: MTSU ARTICLE (archive)


Michael Grantham

	The Uniform Equality Committee of Middle Tennessee State 
University will have its first meeting of a busy new year on January 16. 
Work will begin on editing rough draft sections of the much anticipated 
UEC Report on Sexual Orientaiton and MTSU.
	The report will highlight a formal request to President James 
Walker to enhance the campus nondiscrimination policy to include the term 
sexual orientation. The UEC has been in commission for five months 
educating the campus community on issues of equal rights while being 
joined with support from more than 20 campus organizations. 
	The report will also bring to light a number of anonymously 
printed personal testimonies from students, faculty, staff and alumni. 
The UEC will accept submissions up until the beginning of March. This 
appendix will also carry the impact statements from five individuals 
disciplined for their involvement in directing death threats toward the 
campus LGB community in October.
	The report will also discuss proactive measures encouraged by 
other universities to address these issues openly and honestly. 
Appendicies will offer an opportunity to focus on the kind of anticipate 
research by a President's Select Committee. So far, proactive efforts by 
MTSU have been scarce.
	In a memo in October, Vice President of Student Affairs Robert 
LaLance informed the UEC that an ad hoc committee in the Student Affairs 
Subcouncil of the Tennessee Board of Regents has been "reactivated." In 
attempts to clarify this memo, the UEC has received no response.
	Despite this memo, LaLance denied knowing anything about the ad 
hoc comittee in a December meeting suggested by Marc Burnett, Chair of 
the Student Affiars Subcouncil of TBR. Burnett had previosly stated that 
LaLance not only would have the information, but also added that he was 
both a member of the ad hoc committee and served on the original committee.
	LaLance denied comment on any questions until he could speak with 
Burnett to clarify what he could and could not say. A memo was sent to 
Burnett stating that the UEC will only pursue the TBR efforts as long as 
they are both public and address issues of policy enhancement honestly 
and openly. A request for more information was reiterated.
	MTSU's expressed disinterst in proactive involvement with this 
serious issue sends a positive message for the need to educate community 
leaders on issues surrounding equal rights and LGB issues. The UEC will 
continue to raise the level of discussion through planned public forums, 
pamphlets, and the 1996 report.
	The campus community remains concerned about climates such as 
those within Alabama. According to David Donaldson of the University of 
Alabama in Tuscalusa, the State Attorney General's Office has raised 
concerns that the state is supporting "something that is illegal," 
refering to the student LGB group meeting on campus.
 	The potential threat against equal freedoms of students to use 
campus facilities is an added drive for new-year efforts within 
Lambda Association at MTSU. The UEC urges letters of support be sent to 
Lambda Association. These will be fowarded to President Walker.    
	Anyone requesting information about the UEC should visit the 
website at http://www.mtsu.edu/~mtlambda/uec.html or call the Lambda 
Infoline at (615)780-2293.


I'll try to keep up with sending a regular article now that I'm back in 
school. Hope you had a great new year! Talk to you later..:)

michael