Bowdoin's first ever Gay/Lesbian/ Bi/Transgender (GLBT) faculty, staff, and friends ad-hoc organization recently convened to discuss the prospect and mission of an official organization.
The group was started from a student-initiated effort to solidify support for GLBT students and friends, according to Bernie Hershberger, licensed psychologist and interim director of the College's counseling services.
"A year or two ago some students came to me and asked whether or not there were GLBT staff on campus," he said. "At that point some staff may have been out but there was no organization proper."
Hershberger investigated Middlebury, MIT, and Wesleyan University to see if they had GLBT staff associations. He found that staff associations, web sites, and counseling services had been established to work with GLBT students.
"This prompted us to press the Bowdoin administration as to whether or not it was safe to be on staff and be out," Hershberger said.
The answer was an unequivocal yes, Hershberger said. He added, "This initiated a process to establish some sort of faculty and staff organization, to work in conjunction with the Bowdoin Queer/Straight Alliance (BQSA) and the Queer/Trans Resource Center."
According to Hershberger, the exact mission of the group is yet to be decided. Preliminary objectives include establishing "a mentorship program and a web site" and "possibly a program to set up host families for students to visit or stay with during school breaks or other occasions."
The first meeting, held September 28, consisted of a general dialogue on queer issues faced by Bowdoin, according to Munny Munford '07, one of two students present. The group talked about "how comfortable people felt 'being out,' ways in which Bowdoin is an 'unsafe space,' and the ability to communicate with other students, staff, and faculty, as well as the administration," Munford said.
Some members of the group also advocated that the organization take on a political stance and consider upcoming Question 1, to be decided on November 8. According to Munford, the group discussed possible campaign strategies.
Whether or not the group will pursue any political objective remains uncertain, Hershberger said. Among other things, the organization could add to the supportive infrastructure being developed at Bowdoin and attract prospective students and staff.
"I've sometimes gotten phone calls from [prospective] students wondering what Bowdoin does to support gay, lesbian, or transgender students," Hershberger said. "These students are making their college decision based on the presence of support services and also a sense that GLBT students are safe."
Visiting Fellow to the Education Department Suzanne Aldridge, a member of the ad-hoc group, was attracted to Bowdoin because of the College's reputation as a safe place for queer staff.
"When I was interviewing, I remember being told that Bowdoin was the first Maine school to come out against discrimination. That was a selling point," Aldridge said, adding, "I was told that it was easier to be a gay faculty member than a gay student."
Citing social pressures placed on students, Aldridge believes this perception is accurate. She is unsure, however, as to how welcoming Bowdoin appears to prospective students.
Based on her experiences in talking to straight and gay students at Bowdoin, Aldridge "would not advise a questioning student who is looking for a supportive atmosphere to come here." She believes "that there is a lot of closeting and reservation within the student body."
"It's not that my perspective is wholly negative," Aldridge said. "I think that the small community here is great, that the LBGT and queer community is growing and achieving a higher profile. I'm just surprised that it's just now forming."
Munford agrees that though there "is support for LGTB staff and students, it is not as abundant as many of us would hope for it to be."
"The Bowdoin campus is very tolerant, and has a ways to go on acceptance. This is one of the reasons I think a faculty LGBT focus group is so important," Munford said.
"The support needs to be worked on to make this place a safe and comfortable campus for all people, and that has not yet been achieved," she said.
The ad-hoc group will meet in Lamarche Lounge in Smith Union Friday, October 21 at 12 p.m. to flesh out its mission and discuss future plans. Hershberger welcomes students, faculty, and staff.