LAFS has been active in several university events this semester. During New Faculty Orientation on August 15, 2000, members of LAFS staffed a table in the Grand Ball Room of the Union and distributed information about the organization to new faculty. There were several new people expressing interest in LAFS. This was followed by a potluck dinner on August 17, 2000 at the Alumni House welcoming both new members and current members back for the start of the school year. Approximately one thousand flyers were mailed to WIU faculty and staff announcing the potluck.
On September 14, 2000 LAFS sponsored a potluck dinner for BGLFA at the Unitarian Universalist Foundation on Wigwam Hollow Road. Kathy Lawhon was the driving force behind organizing the event. Forty to fifty students attended as well as 12 to 15 LAFS members. Craig Rich arranged for theater students to give a performance of show tunes after dinner. Thanks go to: Julius John, Libby Lane, Jon Landvich, and Michael Warfield for a wonderful performance.
Important Dates:
Please note these dates and activities for the remainder of the semester:
Thursday, October 19. Faculty/Staff and Graduate Student Mixer beginning at 6:30 pm at Martin Dupuis's apartment along Adams St. east of Wigwam Hollow Road. (375 Eggers, Apt 11). Martin will provide some snacks. Bring your own refreshments. LAFS members please notify graduate students who might be interested in attending.
Wednesday, November 8. A Chill and Chat Lunch in the Lincoln Room from 11:30 am till 1:00 pm. Notify Marshall Parks if you are attending so he can make the reservations.
Thursday, December 7. A Christmas get together (pot luck) at Bill and Mike's at 304 North McArthur St. They will provide refreshments and the meat dish. Bring desserts and side dishes.
Professional Activities
LAFS members have been busy with writing and presenting on GLB issues. Any member who is writing or doing programs is requested to inform Bill so he can note it in the newsletter. The work that has been reported include:
Bill and Beth presented "Homophobia in the U. S. Heartland" at the National Conference for the Society for Applied Anthropology in San Francisco in March. They reported the results of a survey of homophobic attitudes on campus. They will be presenting the material at a Brown Bag in Morgan 453 on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at noon.
Bill and Martin had a manuscript accepted for publication in Professional School Counseling a national journal for school counselors. The manuscript is entitled, "The legal duty to protect gay and lesbian students from violence" and summarizes recent court cases where schools have been held liable for failing to make schools safe for gay and lesbian kids. They will present material from the article at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference in Springfield on November 10.
Other Information
The Faculty Senate voted unanimously to include "sexual orientation" in the "just and equal treatment clause" of the faculty handbook. Thanks to Kathy Lawhon for pointing this out and to Cathy Werner who brought it to the attention of the Senate.
Two websites everyone needs to know about. The first one is LAFS website at www.wiu.edu/users/milafs. Much appreciation to Kathy Lawhon for creating and updating the site. The second website is for the University Committee on Sexual Orientation at www.wiu.edu/users/mipteh (being revised, but will be up and running within a month).
Friendly reminder that dues are $15.00. If you haven't yet done so, please mail them to Bill. We have donated money to support Jerry Pope's visit to campus in September and will also donate money to support the National Coming Out Day speaker. Your money helps us support events like these.
LAMBDA & ALLIES FACULTY/STAFF
An organization for gay, lesbian, bi, and transsexual Western Illinois University
employees.
The purpose of Lambda & Allies Faculty/Staff (LAFS) shall be to provide for continuing interaction among members to consider and act on common interests and issues relating to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (g/l/b/t) faculty and staff. Specifically, the organization shall have the following objectives:
(from LAFS by-laws, adopted Feb. 17, 1999)
Membership form was attached