ND needs GSA
Letter to the Editor
Published: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Updated: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 13:09
I am deeply disappointed by the SAO's apparent response to the current request for a gay-straight alliance.
Ms. Hnatusko, the director of student activities for programming, was quoted in the recent Observer article "Gay-straight alliance asks University for official recognition" (Mar. 5) as saying "It remains the viewpoint of the Student Activities Office that due to the sufficiently complex nature of the issue, the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning students can best be met through the structures that are currently in place."
With all respect, I find this statement condescending and offensive. Notre Dame students are intelligent, mature adults who are capable of making their own decisions. Who is the SAO to decide what students need?
If the GLBTQ community is satisfied with the "structures that are currently in place," if its needs are being met, then why does it continue to petition for a GSA? Why would students continue to ask for a safe space on campus if they didn't need one? The needs of GLBTQ students and their allies on this campus are clearly not being met.
I hope the SAO takes the time to consider Sam Costanzo's request for an official GSA, keeping in consideration that the Church preaches that all people are God's children, equally deserving of love and dignity, and this includes everyone at Notre Dame.
Jessica Kohn
junior
Lewis Hall
Mar. 6
15 comments
Anonymous
The nature of the GSA club remains unclear because its advocates repeatedly insist that Catholic theology should be ignored and that all relationships should be endorsed regardless of Church teaching. There is not a single straight group on campus that openly suggests ignoring Church teaching.
Julia
Realizing that you are not "straight" is a difficult, painful process. It is very hard to do even when you are surrounded by people whom you know will love and support you no matter what. At a conservative school like Notre Dame, where you know that some of your friends probably will judge you or reject you if you come out to them, this can be even harder. This is something that literally drives people to self-harm and suicide, and it can have major psychological ramifications. I am frustrated that the nature of a GSA club remains unclear. The acronym stands for Gay-Straight Alliance. It would not be a club comprised only of LGBTQ individuals- straight "allies" are welcome and necessary members, as well. The "safe space" it would provide would help LGBTQ individuals to accept who they are- after all, the Church teaches that your sexuality is something you are born with, not something you choose. It is NOT about having or discussing sex and desires, about meeting a sexual partner, or disregarding the Church. A GSA would be a environment for students, especially those troubled by something that is integrally a part of them but that they have been told is wrong and unacceptable, to feel safe and to feel comfortable with themselves. There is no moral or religious wrong about enabling a troubled individual to find peace with what troubles them. GSA clubs also tend to include the elimination of homophobia and bullying as part of their missions. This does not go against Church teachings either. Again, this goes back to the way the University views LGBTQ students. Straight students are also capable of identifying potential sexual partners; however, the University makes it clear that extramarital sex is unacceptable, and students then make their own decisions. Of course, there's no real way to actually prevent students from having sex. Yes, a GSA would make it easier for LGBTQ individuals to identify others of their sexual orientation. However, if the University is serious about standing by the Spirit of Inclusion and affording the LGBTQ community the same respect that it affords straight students, then it needs to trust that LGBTQ students will demonstrate the same self-control as straight students. Just because one gay or lesbian individual meets another does not mean that they will have sex with each other, in the same way that a straight boy meeting a straight girl does not mean that they will have sex.
Anonymous
Is there a club of straight students that encourages them to celebrate their sexual desires, helps provide them with "safe spaces" in which to discuss and share those desires, and enables them to identify other students who might satisfy them? That tells them to disregard any Church teaching that offends them by suggesting that their desires are disordered?
Julia
@Anon 14:21, thanks for your candor. I am indeed making an emotional argument. Also, "The church teaches that homosexual orientation in a person is neither sinful nor evil. The call of the gospels is a call to inclusiveness-to a recognition of the dignity inherent in each person that flows from our creation in the image and likeness of a loving God." This is a direct quote from the Spirit of Inclusion, which also states "In a number of different settings in recent years, we have stated publicly that we prize the gay and lesbian members of this community as children of God, entitled to the same respect as all other members of this community." My request to the University is not to endorse homosexual behavior but merely to grant the GLBTQ community the same respect and dignity it affords straight students. A GSA would not promote homosexual behavior any more than a club comprised of straight students promotes extramarital heterosexual sex, which is also forbidden by the Church.@Anon 14:59, thank you. This is what I was attempting to point out in my letter.@Anon 15:22, again, this is not an indication that the students requesting a GSA are attempting to force the SAO to do anything. It is simply a statement that the SAO claims some students' emotional needs are being met, when they are not- and nobody can know when students' needs are being met besides the students themselves.
Anonymous
Whether you believe your emotional needs are being met is irrelevant. Students can't make the claim that their emotional needs are not being met as a blanket order to force SAO to endorse whatever group they want.
Anonymous
Anon: for someone else to tell me whether or not my emotional needs are being met is pretty absurd. I know when my needs are being met, and I resent being told that they are when they clearly are not.Thank you for your excellent letter, Julia.
Anonymous
I am an alum. My point is that your argument is founded on emotion rather than logic, and requires that the University endorse behavior that contradicts the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Julia
Now I'm not entirely sure what your point is. Also, if you don't mind me asking, what is your connection to the University?
Anonymous
The request for a GSA clearly indicates that they think their needs are not being met. The SAO believes that their needs in line with Catholic doctrine are being met. Your argument that because the GSA think their needs are not being met (as evidenced by the submitted requests) that their needs are "clearly" not being met is cyclical.
Julia
Again, no. I am not trying to make any kind of statement regarding the SAO's decision-making process. The point of this letter was simply to state that the official viewpoint of the SAO with regards to the need for a GSA does not reflect the views of the GLBTQ community. Hnatusko states that their needs are being met; the request for a GSA, on the other hand, clearly indicates that their needs are not being met. The purpose of my letter was to point out this disparity.
Anonymous
Obviously she is not a Notre Dame student. What students have decision making authority in the SAO? So your argument is that only a GLBTQ person can make SAO decisions regarding GLBTQ groups?
Julia
@Anon 9:27, that was not actually my argument. I do not disagree that the SAO decides what groups will be sanctioned by the University, and I am not trying to say that the SAO should have to accept every club request presented to it. On the contrary, my point is that the request for a GSA should not be dismissed out-of-hand by saying that a GSA is not needed at this time. Hnatusko does not have the credentials, if you will, to determine or speak to the needs of the GLBTQ community and its allies, considering that she is neither a Notre Dame student nor (to the best of my knowledge) a member of the GLBTQ community.
Anonymous
You ask the question "Who is the SAO to decide what students need?" Well I would venture to guess that being the governing body for student groups, the Student Activities Office would be the organization responsible for deciding what groups will be sanctioned and endorsed by the University. It is not the SAO's position to provide for any request presented by a student group.Your argument that because GLBTQ students want a group the SAO is responsible for providing one is inane.
Anonymous
what do you mean by that?
Anonymous
do we though?
is a member of the 
