Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / April 25, 1991, edition 1 / Page 5
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F eatures Page 5 Homophobia: college should address issue Kirstin Stamp The Pendulum Homophobia, the fear of **o*nosexuals, is an irrational fear found on all college campuses, Eluding Elon’s. Heterosexism is a term more frequently used. Heterosexism is the behavior which makes individuals the target of oppression, harassment or discrimination based upon their homosexual or bisexual wientation. David Atkins, dean of student affairs, said heterosexual students fwl threatened by homosexual and bisexual students. "The fear has a lot to do with family upbringing environment. We arc taught at early age who to love and who to hate," Atkins said. The fear of AIDS has ’’’^^’^eased negative lowaid py and bisexual communities. ^DS is not a gay disease. It Originated in a heterosexual *^niunity in Africa. As a result of homophobic attitudes, AIDS has filtrated the entire population," Atkins said. Atkins said education is the to understanding and Preventing the spread of AIDS. Ten percent of the American population are homosexual and ^'26 percent are bisexual. Atkins the percentage of homosexual students at Elon is equal to the •>ational level. Atkins is aware of only two AIDS cases that have occurred at Elon in the past The issue of homosexuality is *o wide spread that it affects all ®^*cis of college life. Atkins said "When you're straight, affairs in the bedroom are kept private. But when you're gay, everyone wants to know what is going on." the Greek community as a whole is honKq)hobic. "At one point in time, I knew of at least one gay or lesbian person in each sorority and fraternity," he said. Atkins said Elon needs to address the issues of homosexuality and bisexuality through support/networks, changing the Mission of the College statement to include cultural diversity among people, changing Elon’s Equal Employment Opportunity statement to include sexual orientatioa. and most importandy, educational programming for all students. "Lisa," a former student and said she had dated males from high school through her junior year at Elon. She then became invdved in a two and a half year relationship with another female and realized she was gay. At first she only told other homosexuals about her sexual orientation because she was afraid to lose the support of her friends. "Whoi you’re straight, affairs in the bedroom are kept private. But when you’re gay, everyone wants to know what is going on," Lisa said. . Today, only three straight pec^le know she is gay. Lisa said the stereotypes about homosexuals run rampant She said gay males are expect^ to be feminine and females are expected to be more masculine, but the stereotypes are false. Lisa is waiting a while before telling her family about her sexual orientation. When she was a junior, she found out her twin sister was gay. She wants to make sure she can come to terms with the denial and rejection her sister experienced bef^ore telling her parents. Lisa said Elon needs to address the issues of homosexuality and bisexuality through education. She said Elon 101 classes and campus-wide programs would be a good place to start "Support groups wouldn’t help beca^ Elon is so small and everyone (who is boroosexual) is afraid of bdng threatened." She said as she has gotten older, accepting her sexual orientation h^ become easier but the stakes have become higher. "I’ve been through the ’coming out’ stage and I feel comfortable with my sexuality but in the real worid you need to watch your step because you could lose your job," Lisa said. "The advice I would give to someone who is ’coming out* is to know what you are getting into; friends by day, lovers by night Know that what you are about to do is completely against what society believes in. Think about the things it is going to cost because it will cost you a kM," she said. Awards Day is an annual event sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa. This year it wiU be held immediately after the final faculty meeting of the year in the Yeager Recital haU at the Fine Arts Building at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 1991. Everyone is invited to attend this event. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony. For more information call X2219 or visit Alamance 118. You re invited to an open house at Holland House. Thurtday, May 2 9:30 -10:00 a.m The College Coffee will move to the front lawn of Holland House at the comer of O'Kelly and Haggard. Come vuU the new home for the Development Office UNLIMITED INCOME AMERICA'S PREMIER IMAGE CO. In 10 short years Beauticontrol has become the World's Premiere Image Company and we've only just begun! For a limited time you can receive a free image training, valued at $1500. You will market fashion, corporate workshops, head to toe image consultations, color coded cosmetics and more for groups or individuals. For an interview, call Cheryl Ashworth at (804) 685-3794. Andrews Service COMPLETE REPAIR SERVICE MAJOR A MINOR REPAIRS • TUNE'UPS •BATTERIES • BRAKE WORK • LUBRICATION NO INSPECTION STATION 10 % STUDENT DISCOUNT ON MAINTENANCE ft REPAIR WITH ELON ID U-HAUi: 704 W. Hsggard Avt. Elon Coltog*, N.C. 27244 'Am i Fl ^ \Ci
Elon University Student Newspaper
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April 25, 1991, edition 1
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