Hate crime hits Cabrini

JUMP, from I fabric of our living. Just to think something like this could happen here is abhorrent."

The concern has poured out around campus, some students are going to Shirley Dixon, coordinator of the Office of Diversity Initiatives, others have written to President who took state- ....,,.,....._.....,...,....,....,.....,.....,_

Public Safety, who took statements, questioned students who were found in the area of the vandalism. The statements were then turned over to Tom DeMarco, Residence Life's judicial officer, ments from the entire first floor.

According to Charlie Shafner, director of Public Safety, the sanctions the school can use against the perpetrators can vary depending on the severity of the crime. The punishment could be as light as a warning all the way to expul-

Dr. Richard Neville V.P. of Student Development

Antoinette Iadarola. The president was not in the area at the time of the incident and responded with a heart-felt letter e-mailed to the entire campus community. This type of act does not just hurt one part of the population, it affects the whole community. great." that some of my cousins know,"

The panel went on to discuss the struggles of '"coming out." Most panelists acknowledged that they knew they were gay from an early age, but did not understand it. "Many ofus realized early, Tm different,' but there were always these roadblocks," Watson said. Panelist Stephanie Mannis went on to say, "You know it, but you choose not to see it. In college I experimented, but I always had a boyfriend. I never thought about [being a lesbian]. It wasn't an option."

"I thought it was just a phase," agreed panelist Seth Eaker. "It took me a long time to vocalize it. But once you vocalize it, everything changes and you can't go back."

"There were pressures for me not to be gay. I didn't want to be gay," speaker Chris Donato acknowledged. "Dating a guy meant I was gay. I could experiment, but I couldn't date him. I was careful to make that distinction. It has taken me a long time. I needed to get comfortable with myself."

"I thought the seminar was Wilson recalled. good because it covered some While gayness might be a big practical points," Chambers said. part of some people's lives, for "But I also felt it was just random Eaker "Gayness is a very small people telling more about their part of my life, but we need to be lives instead of the struggles of trail blazers, and with every generbeing gay. I also thought it was ation it should get easier." surreal that none of them had any Another issue the panel disreal harassment." cussed was the image of gays and Chambers experienced some lesbians in the media, laughing harassment herself after writing a over "Will and Grace" character perspective piece about being gay "Jack" and the use of the term for "Loquitur" in January of 2002. "queerific" on Showtime's "Queer Offensive notes were slipped as Folk." "While not accurate, it under Chambers' door condemn- gives us a point of commonality ing her and her article. " I wrote and gives us an entrance into the that article because I had the conversation, which is something chance to. I wrote it mainly for we've never had before," Watson myself, but also to show that gay said. people are normal people." The seminar closed with the lege all together.

Residence Life will have the final say in what is going to happen with the investigation, right down to the penalty.

"When it first sion from the col- happened 1 was a little ticked off about it. I think a lot of people on campus don't realize that it is not [Quickel's] fault. But that it is just the stupidity of the students who did it, they don't realize that it is not just a crime against blacks; that is a crime all over the nation," Joneeta Byrd, freshman Xavier resident, said. "It's against all types of religions. The swastika is a universal hate symbol and I just think that the people in Xavier, whether they were drunk or not, should be responsible for their

"The incident seems to me to be perpetrated by a small group of students, who's judgment may have been clouded by alcohol possibly, and I would hope that if they were in their right state of mind that this would never have happened," Neville said. "The bad effect is that it is such a violation of the standards and values that we profess and, much less, live by, that it just shreds the actions."

Mallaghan- Rasco a ck.nowIedged that it is hard for the silent group of students to come out. "College is a hard time. You're worried about what your family and friends will think, worried that they might condemn it or think that it is wrong. You're also consolidating your identity and going through developmental issues."

While talking abut his experience coming out, Eaker said, "Regardless of who you come out to, the people you are close to realize that they are close to you because of who you are."

Senior Maria Chambers attended the seminar. Chambers came out during her freshman year. "My friends were better with it than people who didn't know me. People were put off by the idea, especially since I was living in Woodcrest. But my friends were

"I feel like people think I am panel offering their advice for 0thflaunting it, when really I am just ers who are struggling with being comfortable with myself," contin- homosexual. "Realize that you are ued Chambers. "I am more upset not alone," Eaker said. when people don't say things and "Be comfortable with who you give looks instead. Maybe I'm just are. Work on loving yourself and paranoid, or maybe it's a culture other people will love you," shock for them." Mannis said. "Recognize that Chambers admitted knowing a there is a lot of diversity in this number of gay students who are world. Express yourself." afraid to "come out, " but feels "On the journey there are going that their fear has less to do with to be moments where you look in Cabrini but more with their per- the mirror and you love yourself, sonal lives. "It has more to do with hate yourself or are in between. their families although Cabrini We all go through this and it's OK. might have something to do with There is always someone who can it. When I speak to people who be there for you," closed Watson. aren't out, their main thought is Watson is also helping organize 'My mom would kill me.'" •. a panel for the "Equality Forum", Wilson talked about her per- the largest gay and lesbian festival sonal tribulations with gaining in the country. The Equality acceptance from her family.) Forum will be held in Philadelphia "When I came out, my mothcld: from April 28 to May 4. For more begged, 'Please don't be a les- information v1S1t bian.' She'd be upset if she knew http://www.equalityforum.com.