Students close mouths, open minds for Day of Silence
Nicole Higginbotham
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
What began as a University of Virginia class assignment in 1996 has since become a national event, allowing students and faculty across the U.S. to speak up on issues concerning gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals in the school setting.
On April 24, UNO participated in the Day of Silence event, with JohnCarl Denkovich, director of the Gender and Sexual Orientation Agency, organizing the day's proceedings. Many students participated on campus by not speaking and handing out information to other students.
During an event in the Milo Bail Student Center, several speakers addressed issues relating to discrimination and bullying including Meredith Bacon, professor in the political science department, and Sara Barnett, GLSEN Jumpstart/Central High School Student Leader.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is a national organization that focuses on sexual identity and orientation acceptance.
"There are many people … who feel very isolated on campus and cannot be who they are," said Joseph Price, professor in UNO's English department.
Bacon addressed the discrimination that transgender students face from their peers and society, something she knew firsthand from a transgender operation in 2005.
"God will not punish them for being trans," Bacon said. "She has made them that way."
Barnett said that many times, GLBT students face discrimination from administration and faculty.
"We have a lot of students that are supportive," Barnett said. "Unfortunately, the administration isn't there yet."
Price said that he was happy that there was a protection against sexual orientation discrimination in UNO's mission statement.
"I feel very blessed to work on this campus," Price said.
Jesse Cozad III, a student in UNO's secondary education program, agreed with Price, saying that he felt a lot of support from students and faculty during the event.
"It was nice to be here and actually have support from a school," Cozad said.
On April 24, UNO participated in the Day of Silence event, with JohnCarl Denkovich, director of the Gender and Sexual Orientation Agency, organizing the day's proceedings. Many students participated on campus by not speaking and handing out information to other students.
During an event in the Milo Bail Student Center, several speakers addressed issues relating to discrimination and bullying including Meredith Bacon, professor in the political science department, and Sara Barnett, GLSEN Jumpstart/Central High School Student Leader.
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is a national organization that focuses on sexual identity and orientation acceptance.
"There are many people … who feel very isolated on campus and cannot be who they are," said Joseph Price, professor in UNO's English department.
Bacon addressed the discrimination that transgender students face from their peers and society, something she knew firsthand from a transgender operation in 2005.
"God will not punish them for being trans," Bacon said. "She has made them that way."
Barnett said that many times, GLBT students face discrimination from administration and faculty.
"We have a lot of students that are supportive," Barnett said. "Unfortunately, the administration isn't there yet."
Price said that he was happy that there was a protection against sexual orientation discrimination in UNO's mission statement.
"I feel very blessed to work on this campus," Price said.
Jesse Cozad III, a student in UNO's secondary education program, agreed with Price, saying that he felt a lot of support from students and faculty during the event.
"It was nice to be here and actually have support from a school," Cozad said.
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sarah Barnett
posted 4/29/08 @ 10:48 AM CST
Sarah Barnett is a proud South High student, not Central.
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