Letter to the Editor: GLBTA housing is here
Issue date: 3/18/03 Section: Opinion
To the Loyola College Community:
Stonewall House was en-visioned as an all-inclusive special interest housing option founded in the Jesuit tradition of men and women for others.
It is meant to provide GLBT individuals and their allies with an understanding, accepting, and nurturing environ-ment in which they can live their lives openly and honestly, free from bias and harassment.
The justifications for this form of special interest housing are many, and not least among these is Loyola's climate. In a place where incidents of hate are communicated campus-wide through Special NewsHounds, the establishment of a visibly supportive community for sexual minority students and their supporters seemed logical and necessary.
The healthy and adaptive development of GLBT students and the protection of their rights as individuals, a development and protection guaranteed to every student at this college, have been Spectrum's ultimate goals in proposing Stonewall House.
Concerns related to the further stigmatization of GLBTA in-dividuals, the safety of those same individuals, and the relationship between this form of housing and Loyola's Catholic identity are all understandable but not insur-mountable concerns.
They must not function as a deterrent to equality, for each has both a positive and a negative aspect to consider, and each, rather than preventing the development of this form of special interest housing, should serve to enhance it.
It is Spectrum's belief that the campus in general will benefit from the pre-sence of Stonewall House.
Providing a visibly sup-portive and nurturing space for GLBTA stu-dents sends a message of acceptance and value to the entire community.
This message is essential in promoting inclusion, com-munication and coalition building between gay, bisexual and straight students and will support Loyola's existing and much-needed campaign against hatred and homophobia.
The members of Spectrum have always advocated for the recognition of GLBTA issues as legitimate, the understanding of GLBTA individuals as equals, and the possibility of nurturance and support for all people, gay or straight.
Stonewall House is another example of Loyola College truly embracing its motto, "Strong truths well lived."
A town hall meeting to discuss further the merits of Stonewall House will be held this Thursday at 7 p.m. in Knott Hall B01. All are encouraged to attend.
Spectrum
Loyola's GLBTA Awareness and Support Group
Stonewall House was en-visioned as an all-inclusive special interest housing option founded in the Jesuit tradition of men and women for others.
It is meant to provide GLBT individuals and their allies with an understanding, accepting, and nurturing environ-ment in which they can live their lives openly and honestly, free from bias and harassment.
The justifications for this form of special interest housing are many, and not least among these is Loyola's climate. In a place where incidents of hate are communicated campus-wide through Special NewsHounds, the establishment of a visibly supportive community for sexual minority students and their supporters seemed logical and necessary.
The healthy and adaptive development of GLBT students and the protection of their rights as individuals, a development and protection guaranteed to every student at this college, have been Spectrum's ultimate goals in proposing Stonewall House.
Concerns related to the further stigmatization of GLBTA in-dividuals, the safety of those same individuals, and the relationship between this form of housing and Loyola's Catholic identity are all understandable but not insur-mountable concerns.
They must not function as a deterrent to equality, for each has both a positive and a negative aspect to consider, and each, rather than preventing the development of this form of special interest housing, should serve to enhance it.
It is Spectrum's belief that the campus in general will benefit from the pre-sence of Stonewall House.
Providing a visibly sup-portive and nurturing space for GLBTA stu-dents sends a message of acceptance and value to the entire community.
This message is essential in promoting inclusion, com-munication and coalition building between gay, bisexual and straight students and will support Loyola's existing and much-needed campaign against hatred and homophobia.
The members of Spectrum have always advocated for the recognition of GLBTA issues as legitimate, the understanding of GLBTA individuals as equals, and the possibility of nurturance and support for all people, gay or straight.
Stonewall House is another example of Loyola College truly embracing its motto, "Strong truths well lived."
A town hall meeting to discuss further the merits of Stonewall House will be held this Thursday at 7 p.m. in Knott Hall B01. All are encouraged to attend.
Spectrum
Loyola's GLBTA Awareness and Support Group
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