Minutes From: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Concerns Committee [CONCERNS-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU] on behalf of Linda Lamme [lammel@EDU15.COE.UFL.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 1:30 PM
To: CONCERNS-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU
Subject: Minutes
Hello members.  I am sorry that I did not highlight the change of place on the agenda I sent out the other day, and that so many folks had emergencies to deal with today, but we had a highly productive meeting, as I think you can see by reading the minutes.  If you were there and if I got anything wrong or need to make any changes in the minutes, please let me know -- thanks, Linda

Agenda
LGBT Concerns Committee
2215 Norman Hall
November 13, 2002, 11:00 - 12:30
Attendance: Scott Feldman, Jeanna Mastrodicasa, Charles Brown, Ken Wald, and Linda Lamme
Reports from Campus Groups

LGBT Student Affairs Cabinet: Chad
    No report.  Scott mentioned that there is something planned for World Aids Day.

Gator Gay Straight Alliance - Scott
… Scott and Mike are working on mentoring new leaders for the organization for next semester.
… GSA is engaged in several fund raising activities.
… GSA is planning a program like the one that they operate for Housing and for Greek groups for the First Year Florida classes.  Scott and Jeanna are teaching one of those classes this semester and see the need for LGBT inclusion into all the classes.

Pride Student Union - Michael
… No report.  Scott reported that the PSU is doing a Float for the Homecoming parade.
… The Colloquium for Gay Pride Week went really well.

Rainbow Alliance - Charles
… RA is focusing on fund raising to establish the Florida Foundation account.
… Kendal and Angel Kwaleck Falland of Women's Studies are working on a course on lgbt research conducted on this campus.
… Charles is considering e-mailing his list with a news report each Monday.
… Charles met with other LGBT leaders of organizations in this town and found a need to network with these folks.
… The RA goes out to dinner once a month.
… The goal for next year is to get active alumni participation.
… They may have a table at the Alumni Barbeque for LGBT alumni.
… Ken suggested a forms option on the website as a way of recruiting new members.
… Their view of the Resource Center is to work on the Resource Center part first and the more academic LGBT Studies Center second as the former might be a better fund raiser. 
… Committee on Sexism and Homophobia - Rich
No report

Committee Business - Linda
… There is a cultural diversity class (ISS) that was established under President Lombardi that has gradually been dwindling in enrollment.  The instructors rotate.  The University decided that such a course was needed but never invested funds into it and provided no faculty incentives for teaching it. The course meets the general education requirements.  Harry Shaw is now coordinating the class.  We discussed how the committee might work to make the course a viable one for students by talking with the Foundation about raising funds for a professorship in cultural diversity.
… We discussed our views of the LGBT Resource Center.  Ken shared that there is a Jewish Studies Center (academic) and Hillel (student services).  We need both.  We have talked about hiring a director who is also a faculty member, but sometimes when that occurs the faculty member has too many other challenges to make the academic focus work.  Might it be better to separate the two and create an LGBT Studies program as well as a Resource Center?
… Ronni Sanlo has a new book out called Our Place on Campus> LGBT Services and Programs in Higher Education. (Greenwood Press).
… There are new books in the Resource Center.  We might consider dividing them between academic resources and leisure reading.
… Jeanna had circulated an article by Ronni Sanlo that caused us to think about how we could reach out to the rest of the campus about the ideas it contained.  The committee decided to try to meet with the Committee on Sexism and Homophobia to resurrect and make much more active the Friends Program.  Similar Safe Zone Programs are much more effective at some other institutions (Iowa State) where they are more visible and active. Scott mentioned that the GSA distributes Friends Stickers when they do Residence Hall programs. The Friends are already updating their materials. Several suggestions for activism included:
o Recruiting more actively, not just at a table, but by going to department meetings and explaining the program and recruiting new members.
o Circulating among that list articles like the one Jeanna circulated among us last week.
o Prepare a one-page handout for sessions with departments on:
ß Here is the problem at UF from the survey (Ken will develop a graphic)
ß Here is what you can do about it.
ß Linda will try to arrange a meeting with the Committee on Sexism and Homophobia to discuss these ideas.
Nondiscrimination Clause - Linda
We meet with President Young on December 6 to find out what his plans are.

Campus Climate Survey - Ken
We can use information from the campus climate survey for the Friends Project.  We will bring up this topic at the meeting with the President.

Methods of Reporting Harassment - Mike and Mary Kay
No Report

LGBT Awards Committee  -
Amanda, Kendal, Carlos, and Gwynn have agreed to serve and will decide among themselves who the chair will be.

Future Meetings
We will try to schedule a meeting with the Committee on Sexism and Homophobia on Wednesday, December 4: 11 - 12:30 in 258 Norman Hall - or another time.
Friday, December 6: 3-4 (with President Young) in the President's Board Room