Our attention was drawn to the minutes of the last annual meeting in
New Orleans, LA on June 1, 1995, item II, for a review of the purpose
of our SIG.
Bo Keppel, East Stroudsburg University, was applauded for her
coordination of the volunteers of the NAMES Project, not all of whom are
SIG members. 500 people saw the exhibit out of 3,600 conference
attendees. Kathleen Sideli will report on the success of the NAMES Project
to the NAFSA leadership.
Skeeter Buck of the NAMES Project was introduced and thanked for
waiving the exhibit fee for us and for conducting a session on the Project
the following morning.
An announcement was made about the showing of the entire holdings of
the NAMES Project in Washington, DC on October 11 13, 1996. Also, it was
mentioned that the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition will be conducting a
retreat, "In Returning and Rest," to be held at the same time, October 10
13, in Washington, DC in conjunction with the NAMES Project Exhibit.
Interested members can contact NEAC, Suite 508, 2025 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington, DC, 20006. Phone: (202) 628 6628; fax: (202) 628 1127.
In "Women Abroad: Leveling the Playing Field" a question was asked
about lesbians studying abroad, and the person was directed to get more
information from our SIG.
In "The Best of Region II: Building Bridges: University of Montana's
'Transition to America' Course," a Japanese student spoke of writing a
journal about "coming out."
As part of a poster session on health issues, Bo Keppel will have one
on "Women and HIV."
It is clear that the NAFSA Program Committee has been very responsive
to the needs of our SIG. It did not seem that any proposals were refused
for the '96 Conference. For the '97 Conference in Vancouver, it was
suggested that TESOL proposals be considered as that group of
professionals is very sympathetic to our concerns. The deadline
for '97 proposals is August 1st.
A proposal was made developing a bibliography for gay, lesbian
students or bisexual students in international education, and My
Yarabinec, San Francisco State University, volunteered to coordinate the
project.
Scott King was recognized for his ground breaking efforts and work on
behalf of the SIG.
Brian also read a letter from Mark Seaman, Co-Chair: Mark said
"hello" to everyone and noted that he enjoyed organizing conference
sessions on AIDS/HIV and working with Kathleen Sideli. He had
traveled with Scott Hamilton to educate people about AIDS/HIV and was
saddened to report that Scott had died in March. Scott wished to
educate himself and others and Mark reminded the group that every time is
the right time to wear the red ribbon in support of a cure for AIDS.
Mark emphasized that NAFSAns have the power to educate young minds and
urged us to work hard on the next conference so that our
voices will be heard.
All in all, the survey results show that the SIG has a very diverse
membership.
Louis Meucci, UC Berkeley, though not present, had expressed his
dismay that all of the positive support came from the grassroots, and not
from NAFSA leadership or the Diversity Committee. It was suggested
that the Diversity Committee look into this issue and respond to it;
that the newsletter membership survey be publicized in NAFSA; that
some of the supportive responses be published in the NAFSA Journal
for those not on INTER-L; and that we should use this controversy as
a basis for a workshop proposal in Vancouver.
Peter Voeller, University of Washington, is on the Local Arrangements
Committee for the '97 Conference and wanted to ask members to volunteer as
mentors for students. He also wanted to solicit ideas for a panel session
and requested that a list of our SIG members be sent to him.
Bob Ericksen, California State University, Fullerton, was recently
named to NAFSAFs Diversity Committee which will maintain closer contact
with related SIGs this year.
My also wanted the issue of NAFSA's October 1993 resolution on not
having a national conference site in states with laws against gays and
lesbians be discussed in connection with the NAFSA training workshop
to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah still has sodomy laws, and the
Salt Lake City School Board recently banned all high school
extracurricular activities so as to prevent gay/lesbian student groups
from forming. Discussions resulted in keeping NAFSA's resolution to apply
only to national conferences, and to use the Salt Lake City training
workshops on health as a forum to educate people on AIDS/HIV.
Kathleen reported to us that the SIG had suggested that a memorial service
be held for those we have lost to AIDS, in conjunction with the NAMES
Project, but it was not approved because NAFSA preferred for the quilt
display to be low-key.
Therefore, Kathleen ended the meeting with a moment of silence in memory
of loved ones and friends lost to AIDS.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Phoenix, Arizona
June 5, 1996
Kathleen Sideli, Indiana University, Co Chair, welcomed everyone, and new
members were recognized.
The minutes, amended after the publication of the 1995 newsletter, were
approved.
A special NAFSA panel was made by Joanne Wallace of Antioch College in
memory of NAFSA members and/or their loved ones who died of AIDS and
displayed at the conference. Over forty names were placed on the panel by
individuals visiting the display. These names will be affixed to the panel later before being turned in to the
NAMES Project for inclusion in the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
The pre conference workshop #27: "Managing Diversity with Tools and
Techniques for Training" included a discussion on sexual orientation.
No reports.
Brian Buchiarelli, Institute of International Education, NY, reported that
although only one newsletter was issued, it was a very good one. He and
Kathleen Sideli absorbed the mailing and publication costs (total
newsletter costs amount to $350), and proposed that members contribute an
activity fee toward some of these costs and those of future newsletters.
An envelope and subscription forms were passed around. Brian encouraged
the group to consider submitting articles to the 1996 newsletter.
Brian Buchiarelli reported the results of the survey distributed to 250
members which was returned by enough individuals to give us the following
approximate profile of SIG members:
Kathleen Sideli gave the background to the controversy for those not on
the INTER L. She spoke of her e mail message in February which
announced the SIG's sponsorship of the NAMES Project and asked for
volunteers. She was surprised at the negative comments from some
NAFSAns in response. She read the one which initiated the debate and
told us that the individual had actually been a SIG member since last
summer. The writer later had a conversation with Jeff, a SIG member,
and clarified his stance which is that no social issue belongs in an
international organization. Kathleen then read the names of
individuals who wrote long, thoughtful, well written responses to the
attacks.
Some felt that the questions brought up should urge us to do more
work educating NAFSA.
There is a new membership form for the SIG and a sign up sheet for
Rainbow. The SIG has approval from NAFSA to solicit an activity fee
(suggested amount $5-$10). We have a bank account now and an EIN#,
but no money. We were asked to contribute now or send a check,
made out to the NAFSA Lesbigay SIG, to Kathleen Sideli, Indiana
University, Associate Director for Academic Affairs, Franklin Hall 303,
Bloomington, IN, 47405 2801. A request for the activity fee and
membership renewal will also appear on the Rainbow Network.
Mark Seaman resigned and suggested that we appoint a co chair to serve two
years, overlapping with Kathleen's last year. Peter Voeller, University of
Washington, was nominated and elected.
Those interested in gathering sociall decided to meet at "Charlie's," 727
W. Camelback at 9:00pm following meeting; taxi will cost @ $9.00.
Announcement from My Yarabinec that San Francisco State's International
Office created Gay and Lesbian Legal Guide for Overseas Travel. It has
been tested in several universities. To obtain a copy for $20, contact My
at San Francisco State University, Office of International Programs, 1600
Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, phone: (415) 338 3316; 338
1293; fax: (415) 338 6234; email: my_ip@sfsu.edu
Respectfully submitted,
Anita Tiambeng, The University of the Arts
Indiana University Office of Overseas Study
Copyright 2000, The Trustees of Indiana University
site url: http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay
Comments: NAFSA: Rainbow SIG