Date: Thu, 27 Jan 1994 20:44:59 -0500
From: "David B. O'Donnell" <atropos@netlab.cis.brown.edu>

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I hope I am posting this correctly to go out on GLB-NEWS...
     
Excerpted from _The Amarillo Daily News_, Wednesday, January 26, 1994
without permission.
     
GROUP HOPES TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS
     
        Leaders of a new student organization at West Texas A&M University in
Canyon [TX] hope to confront and eradicate misconceptions and stereotypes
about gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
        Lambdas of West Texas A&M University was granted a charter Monday by
WT's student senate.  Lambda's Vice President Saul Reyes said the group
wants to provide a support network for the university's gay, lesbian and
bisexual students.
        "We're tired of the stereotypes, the way people label us," he said.
"It's not true for a lot of us....As a group, we will be empowering the
people, telling them that homosexuality is not a bad thing.  We want other
homosexuals to know that they are not alone."
        Membership in Lambdas is open to anyone - homosexual, heterosexual or
bisexual - and members will remain confidential unless they choose to reveal
who they are.
        Reyes, who is gay, said about 15-20 students have voiced plans to join,
and he said the group has received support from faculty members.
        Lamdas President Melodie Faulkner, who is heterosexual, said she believs
WT needed a way to reach its gay, lesbian and bisexual students.
        "When I came here, I encountered a lot of biased opinions," Faulkner
said.  "There are a lot of gay, lesbian and bisexual students out there who
need a sense of home, a family.  One of my goals is to lessen the fact of
homophobia on campus."
        ...
        Dean of Student Services Don Albrecht said to his knowledge, WT has
never chartered a student organization for gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
        "A charter doesn't mean we approve ar disapprove of their beliefs.  It
means we approve of their right to have an organization," he said.
        ....
        At Monday's senate meeting, Lambdas was included in a bill with two
other organizations - a sports science club and a religious group.  The
senate passed the bill on a 10-4 vote, with another 4 senators abstaining.
        Starla Johnson, a senator representing the College of Education and
Social Sciences, said she voted against the bill because of Lambdas.
        "As a senator, I feel we're suppossed to be representing the students,
and I believe the students would not support that...," she said.
        .....
        Susand Babcock, who represents the College of Agriculture, Nursing and
Natural Sciences, said she spoke with constituents about the issue before
Monday's meeting and voted according to ther consensus.
        "The general consensus was to vote against it," Babcock said.
        ....
        Kastle Freeman, a representative of the College of Agriculture, Nursing
and Natural Sciences who voted against granting the charter, said, "I look
at it like this: I think that they have their rights, but I don't agree with
the statement they're trying to make."
        .....
Excerpts from the sidbar, _Organization sparks strong reactions_
     
* "I'm opposed to those kind of organizations.  I don't think that
(homosexuality) is socially acceptable behavior, and I'm afraid if those
type of people form organizations that they're slowly turning the general
opinion of America to accept it a socially acceptable behavior.  That will
lead people with other mental problems to let those mental problems come out
as seuxal frustration and other immoralities such as homosexuality."   - Dan
Nandin, Sophomore.
     
* "I don't want no queers around me.  I don't agree with none of that.  I
sure hope there's a lot of controversy over it."   Joel Jacobe, freshman.
     
* "I vehemently disagree with this.   I don't believe in the lifestyle.
It's morally wrong.  I don't want it around me.  I don't want to know about
other people who are.  And I don't want an organization flaunting their
blatant immorality around me."   Donna Hawkins, senior.
     
_____
Point of interest,  Saul Reyes is a resident assistant in his dorm.   It
willl be interesting to see if anything is made of it.   WT is affiliated
with Texas A&M university and is covered by their non-discrimination
clause.
________________________________________________________________
John Hintz,
Programming Manager Hastings Books, Music & Video, Inc. (806) 376-6251
ext. 4547