Associated Students

Resolution Supporting the Creation of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Program at HSU

Adopted October 21, 2002

Whereas:          Diversity in education is not only limited to different ethnicities and cultures

                        but also includes gender and sexual orientation; and

Whereas:          All oppressions are interconnected, and through Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,

and Transgender (LGBT) issues, we will also be looking at other oppressive

forces, such as sexism, racism, classism, ageism, etc.; and,

Whereas:          HSU is responsible for countering discriminatory attitudes through an

                        educational curriculum that offers an opportunity to discuss, dismantle,

                        and deconstruct oppression in its many forms; and,

Whereas:          A LGBT Studies Program will increase dialogue and community among

                        our students, faculty, staff, and administration at HSU.  Attached are letters

                        and petitions showing the existing fevor for such action to take place; and,

Whereas:          Our educational institution should provide students with a medium for

                        analysis, inquiry, and critique that reflects the many diversities within our

                        student population and larger community; and,

Whereas:          A LGBT Studies Program would provide additional opportunities to meet

                        HSU's obligation to provide educational programs to combate hate.  Cal. Ed.

                        Code 66252 B states "California's  postsecondary educational institutions

                        have an affirmative obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of

                        bias, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity;" and,

Whereas:          An evident desire for a LGBT Studies Program has been expressed by

                        potential and current students, faculty, and staff of HSU; and

Whereas:          Hate-crimes are a reality in the US, California, Arcata and on campus at

                        HSU, and often go unreported or ignored.  A LGBT Studies Program would

help create a safer community for queer students, thus hopefully reducing the number of violent, dangerous and possibly deadly hate-crimes in the future; and therefore be it,

Resolved:         That we, as the Associated Students of HSU, feel it is time for our institution

                        to join leading California State Universities such as San Francisco, Long

Beach, Los Angeles, and San Jose, in the movement toward increasing

diversity in higher education and create a LGBT Program; be it further,

Resolved:         This resolution shall be sent to, but not limited to, US President Bush; HSU

                        President Richmond; Vice President of Student Affairs, Steven Butler; Vice

President of Academic Affairs; the University Curriculum Committee; Dawn

Hill, and the Office of Diversity and Compliance; the Academic Senate; all

College Deans; all department heads; the Multi-Cultural Center; and the Queer

Student Union.

Authored by:  Julie Gallegos and James Showalter-Garcia

________________________________                    ______________________________

                        Amy Muslin                                                              Kelley Kiesling

            All University Representative                             AS Professional Studies Representative

_______________________________                      ______________________________

                   Manuel Fonseca                                                           Gretchen Kinney

            Legislative Vice President                                                         President