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LGBTQ advocate receives approval despite SGA senate’s rejection
The Pointer
jmath438@uwsp.edu
After failing to gain approval by the Student Government Association, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer advocate has been instituted by the university’s administration for the fall semester.
“It’s an interesting process, the way it happened,” said Bob Tomlinson, vice chancellor of student affairs.
A proposal to amend the SGA constitution to establish another executive position in order to host an LGBTQ issues director failed when brought before SGA senate, to much dissatisfaction by the LGBTQ community.
“I just want to say there has been a lot of people disenfranchised now,” said SGA President Katie Kloth following the decision by the SGA senate on April 16.
After failing before the SGA senate, Kloth presented the idea to Chancellor Linda Bunnell. Bunnell discussed the idea with Tomlinson and proposed that the position be created through the administration for period of one year. Tomlinson had been in attendance during the senate meeting in which it was discussed and heard many of the student and faculty concerns and requests for the position.
“I think there’s a very real need to support our LGBTQ students in a way that we’re not doing right now,” said Tomlinson. “We would put up the funds to support a student advocate for one year in our multicultural affairs arena.”
“This way it wouldn’t be circumventing SGA,” said Kloth. “It would be something facilitated by their office.”
According to Tomlinson, multicultural affairs is currently perceived as an ethnic group based on race, culture or creed, but there are other students on campus who are underrepresented.
“Right now, multicultural affairs, technically, is working with different ethnicities, race, religion,” said Kloth. “Ron [Strege] is so kind to father in LGBTQ issues. It’s not in his job description and there’s no paid position anywhere on campus.”
Next year, the position may come up for approval through SGA in the traditional SGA budgeting process once again in order for it to continue.
“Everybody was comfortable with that approach,” said Tomlinson. “It’s a good resolution to a need. The process involved in student government didn’t really fit the situation. It’s an example of how the university and student leaders can work together to address a need that we see for our students that are underrepresented on campus.”
The LGBTQ advocate will have duties performing safe-zone training and other programs currently being done voluntarily by the UW-SP student organization Gay-Straight Alliance. GSA will still continue to offer programs and assistance to students as well as work with the new director when the position is filled. The position description and specifics are yet to be determined.
“It’s open for suggestion,” said Kloth. “There’s a lot of different things that they could do and they need to pull students in and outside of the LGBTQ community to figure out where they’re at, what they need, what they don’t need as far as awareness and education.”
