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[WAC-list] RE: [From HOPE e-mail list] RE: Gay activism
Bill,
It's nice to know that you feel so strongly about the split of the LGBTQ group
on campus...however, I just see your words as threatening propaganda...telling
us we are not doing enough...telling us we are not doing anything at
all!..that is a line that you don't have the right to cross...not all of us
are in the same situation as you...we don't all want to create a radical
violent queer movement...most of us are not completely "out" and it is our
perogative when to decide to come out and talk about sex lives, and our
romantic feelings to the public...If we do change the group so it is ideal to
you, who cares? after this semester you are done here...so quit threatening
the rest of us to do your dirty work, I haven't seen you lobbying congress
lately?...We already had to scrape together an exec board for HOPE, partly
because of your lack of responsibility to take on a workload you can handle
and follow through...So how do you think we can get two queer exec boards from
a group that can hardly handle one...I am not saying that we couldn't do it,
and I commend those on the board presently who work so very hard to keep us
having fun and making such a great impact on campus...KEEP UP THE GREAT
WORK!!! I am not against having a political/social split in the group, but
that would lead to the more political members to condemn the more social
members for not being political, the line in the sand would be far clearer...I
also think that the groups would either work parallel for a while, and then
cut all ties to eachother when one did something the other did't like...or the
group would reconverge due to lack of membership and lack of interest. Bill, I
commend your effort to persuade people to open up to new ideas for the group,
but I totally disagree in the way that you handled your words...threatening
only leads to being threatened...
I would also like to say, Alex, that your ideas are good, and are well noted,
I think that we should discuss the future of HOPE in the very near future...
Erik Koepnick
>===== Original Message From William E Bragg <braggw53@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu>
=====
>I couldn't agree more with Alex's comments below. I think that the
>organization HOPE is at a crossroads and that LGBTQ students on this campus
>should have more options. I think it is problematic that there is only one
>option on this campus for queer and allied students.
>
>According to the constitution of HOPE, HOPE is a "social and educational"
>student organization. But in practice it has long been a neutral social
>network which this year has become extremely political. This is
>understandable considering the context of what is happening in the United
>States. But essentially now HOPE has become impotent, because it is no
longer
>a neutral social outlet that appeals to the majority of queer students at
UWO,
>and no one will broach the taboo of actually wholeheartedly participating in
>political activities. So we all sit around the circle at the meeting,
>attendance dwindling, frustrated, subconsciously understanding what is
>happening, but not willing to talk candidly with each other about it.
>
>I want to take part in the upcoming constitutional revisions. I envision
>creating two groups:
>
>A social group that takes actually takes people to queer social events around
>the states and does regular social things (like going to the West on Fridays,
>10 Percent Dances, stuff like that), is clearly intended to be non-political,
>with fun weekly meetings.
>
>A political group that is engaged with organizations like Action Wisconsin,
UW
>System Inclusvity, United Council, etc. and can be overtly political. Maybe
>chapters of organizations like Lavender Greens, Log Cabin Republicans, etc.
>can be incorporated.
>
>There is a need to meet both the "political" and "social" of students on
queer
>and allied students in Oshkosh. I personally would participate in both
>groups. The function of "education" in the HOPE constitution most logically
>would fall to the newly recognized faculty and staff queer group, which needs
>to get itself in order and start engaging students. I also think that both a
>"political" and "social" organization would of course provide different
>educational opportunities for students and the greater community.
>
>I think that there are enough LGBTQ students on this campus of over 11,000 to
>support at least 2 different student groups. The problems that HOPE has been
>having with attendance only represents the confused situation for queer
people
>on this campus and in the country right now. We, as a queer community, need
>to be reactive to what is happening and how to best meet our needs as a
>community.
>
>When are the constitutional revisions taking place?
>
>William Bragg
>LGBTQ Issues Director
>
>
>Message: 4
>
>
>From: "Alex Langkau" <alex@westlabs.biz>
>To: "HOPE" <hope@lists.uwosh.edu>
>Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:44:13 -0600
>Subject: [From HOPE e-mail list] Gay activism
>
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>Darn It!! HOPE and gay life has changed so much this school yr. =
>Attendance is down at the HOPE meetings and the politicians are raising
>=
>hell in Madison. I wish we had a meeting a week for talking about =
>politics/business and meeting a week for fun/socializing. =20
>
>I don't like talking about politics much but I would of liked to have =
>gone to Madison to do some protesting. Sounds tomorrow the senate will
>=
>discus WI proposed amendment. I personally would feel really good to do
>=
>something other than reading the news all the time. =20
>
>HOPE is supposed to be a support/social group but the need lately has =
>been to talk about politics and I feel that both are important but they
>=
>conflict with each other. As a minority we need to fight for our
>rights =
>but some members don't feel comfortable being active in a still hateful
>=
>state/country. Just my personal opinion "business and politics are =
>important but very boring, too much talking".
>
>If anyone has any suggestions about how to make HOPE better you can =
>e-mail me or any of the execs. Our HOPE constitution is going to have
>=
>some revisions soon. The execs can't make HOPE work by our selves. I
>=
>think HOPE is probably one of the most important groups on campus and =
>the last meeting there was only 6 members. =20
>
>So e-mail (hope@uwosh.edu, alex@westlabs.biz or who ever, I don't care
>=
>e-mail the listserve) you can call me (Room 424-4922 or cell 216-0754)
>=
>As a group we can discuss this some time, right now the execs are
>really =
>busy with bglad week. In theory attendance should be going up, not =
>down.
>
>See ya
>
>William E Bragg
>
>_______________________________________________
>HOPE mailing list
>HOPE@lists.uwosh.edu
>http://lists.uwosh.edu/mailman/listinfo/hope
USRH Diversity Co-Chair
Really Fun Guy
625 Algoma Blvd.
929 South Scott Hall
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3595
_____________________________________________________________________
Isaiah 61:9
...Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.