Despite concerns from some students in the Whitehead School of Diplomacy, members of Students Advocating For Equality carried out a slightly downscaled demonstration to coincide with the visit of former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
According to member Emily Klinke, the group didn’t alter its plans solely because of the concerns about the protest expressed by Diplomacy Sen. Radim Dragomaca.
“We looked back and reviewed the situation and possible consequences,” Klinke said. “It wasn’t supporting our main goals, so we decided to support diplomacy majors instead. We really don’t want to do anything to alienate us from supporters.”
Monday night, group members wrote messages welcoming Gorbachev in chalk around the Richie Regan Recreation and Athletic Center, where Gorbachev spoke Tuesday, and on the Green.
Dave Jacques, a member of SAFE, said the chalkings had meaning and served to educate students.
“Gorbachev’s visit was the perfect opportunity to educate students; hopefully, students will understand the connection between the repression in the former Soviet Union and the repression of gay and lesbian students at Seton Hall,” Jacques said. “This program was the perfect combination of our Catholic values, education and awareness.”
The group also had T-shirts made that read, “Get you facts straight, we’re always God’s children.” On the back, the shirts quoted a portion of the university’s anti-discrimination policy.
Dragomaca said he thought the chalkings were very tasteful and fairly invisible to the casual observer.
He is currently being investigated for misconduct after SAFE President Matthew Rivers brought allegations before the Student Senate last week that Dragomaca threatened to withdraw his support of SAFE if the demonstration took place.
“As the events I was under the impression would occur did not, and they were not offensive, the group does not lose my support in the senate,” Dragomaca said. “If my word of caution led them to a milder version of their peaceful demonstration, I feel I have done my duty as a senator.”
The senate extended its support to members of SAFE, ratifying a resolution of support Monday night.
The resolution, written by freshman Emily Alfstad, an ad-hoc member of the Judicial Committee, passed unanimously without debate. Ten senators voted to approve the resolution, which is almost exactly the same as a resolution passed last year in support of another gay-straight alliance. Five senators abstained.
“Considering that the last (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and allies) resolution required four hours of debate before passing, I was very surprised that this was completely uncontested,” Alfstad said. “However, I trust the senators, and the fact that they reached out to their constituents. They apparently felt like they were secure enough in their decisions, not to debate.”
Andrew Medeiros can be reached at medeiran@shu.edu.
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