L G B T   C a m p u s   O r g a n i z i n g

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The existence of an lgbt caucus with 

prompted by the group s decision last

in virtually every higher

semester to advertise the meeting loca 

education/student affairs professional

tion; and

association.

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Rutgers University, where racist com 

Homophobic backlash has made its pres 

ments made by the university presi 

ence felt on numerous campuses during

dent last fall have sparked intense dis 

1994 95.  A sampling of campus inci 

cussion and debate about the campus

dents the Campus Project has been moni 

climate not only for people of color

toring:

but for lgbt people, as well. 

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Indiana University, where a right wing

Republican state legislator attempted

These examples do not begin to fathom

to block funding for a newly approved

the range of incidents and issues that con 

lgbt resource center.  Fortunately the

tinue to affect the educational and work

center is up and running, but with pri 

experiences of lgbt people on America s

vate funding rather than the originally

college and university campuses.  And

appropriated state funds;

they don t even account for the effects of

the 104th Congress, the Republican Par 

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Stephen F. Austin College (Texas),

ty's Contract With America and the

where the student government, con 

Christian Coalition's Contract With The

trolled by right wing students, voted to

American Family on the quality of cam 

de fund and strip official recognition

pus life.  

from the lgbt student group.  Fortu 

nately the president of the college

In the face of these and other challenges,

intervened and the group s funding and

the NGLTF Campus Project, in concert

recognition were secured;

with the organizational colleagues repre 

sented in this manual, remains committed

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University of New Mexico, where, in

to assisting in the formation, develop 

November, 1994, $20,000 worth of

ment and long term health of lgbt stu 

journals addressing gay & lesbian

dent, faculty and staff organizations.

issues and feminism were destroyed or

This work is not an end in itself, of

stolen from the library and replaced

course.  We are equally dedicated to

with Nazi books, including titles such

engaging ever increasing numbers of

as  Pens under the Swastika .  The

campus activists, especially students, in

incident is reportedly part of a string of

lgbt concerns beyond the campus.

hate crimes that have recently plagued

UNM;

We at NGLTF hope that this organizing

manual is as interesting and fun to use as

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Notre Dame University, where the lgbt

it was to create.  We welcome your feed 

student organization is being prohibit 

back and suggestions on how to improve

ed from meeting on campus, despite

it.  We hope it will be a useful tool for you

nearly a decade of solid community

in your organizing efforts.

participation and on campus meetings

in the university counseling center.

Student leaders were informed that the

Catholic university s action was

i v

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I n t r o d u c t i o n