On Tuesday, March 16th, there was an academic panel spearheaded by a
group of progressive faculty presenting various perspectives
(anthropological, psychological, historical, etc.) on homosexuality. On
Thursday, March 18th, Graduate Student Union recently passed a
resolution which created a non-discrimination clause inclusive of
'sexual orientation.'
The organizers of the January protest met with Fr.
Jenkins for a second time on Friday, March 19th. Though Jenkins insisted
that his hands were tied by the potential legal ramifications of the
addition of sexual orientation to the non-discrimination clause, he
expressed enthusiasm in the implementation of the "Coalition" portion of
the Core Council structure that has yet to be utilized. The Coalition
would be open to representatives from and members of student groups as
well as individuals, and would serve as an extension of the Core Council
in which all Notre Dame students could participate.
Core Council's StaND Against Hate Week will be April
12-16th. Events will include a screening of The Laramie Project,
two panel discussions, a guest speaker on hate speech and violence
against GLBTQ people, a coffee house, an ice cream social, and a prayer
service and silent procession. On April 23rd, the Beiger Mansion will
host OutreachND's annual soirée April Follies, at which new GALA-ND/SMC
Chair Liam Dacey will speak, the Campus Pride scholarship will be
awarded, and the 2010-11 OutreachND officers will be announced.