HOME | MISSION | HISTORY | CALENDAR | CONTACT US | LINKS | SPONSORS
The National Day of Silence has been commemorated at IU in a wide variety of ways over the past ten years.
Students have taken a vow of silence for the day (or a portion thereof) to symbolize the way in which people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender often feel 'silenced' on this campus. The day often culminates with a silent march through campus, ending with noise-making and some reflection on the personal experiences of those who participated in the activities of the day. Panel presentations and speakers ranging from Leslea Newman, (author of "Heather Has Two Mommies") to Esera Tualao (former NFA football star) have addressed various issues related to the silence of the closet and the value of coming out. Every year a student, faculty, staff luncheon addresses some issue related to sexual orientation or gender identity as it impacts our campus. We have hosted a panel of faculty members who seek to create a safe space in their classrooms for glbt students and heard from a former manager of the fabled soccer team here at IU and his experience of homophobia in the locker room. Vigils addressing violence and discussions related to the silencing of other minorities have also complimented our campus emphasis. In recent years, a popular feature of the events surrounding the 'Day of Silence' include the free distribution of T-shirts to glbt students and their allies with messages such as "Gay? OK With Me!" or "Equality is My Priority." A specific theme is decided upon by a student committee each year and various voices from the campus assist us in addressing the silence that can be so debilitating.
