T he L og thelog@taboracademy.org
Tabor Academy’s Student Newspaper Volume 91, Number 4
February 2017
New Name, New Intiative for the GSA Co-Heads Plan to Leave a Mark on Tabor
by Lydia Mead
“GSA” is a familiar acronym and club for most of us here at Tabor. This year, however, “GSA” has taken on a new meaning— both literally and figuratively. With the goal of promoting inclusivity, co-heads Charlie Dineen and Grace Douvos began the year by changing the GSA acronym to signify “Gender-Sexuality Alliance” instead of “GayStraight Alliance.” Grace Douvos explains their thinking and the importance of this shift, saying that “the name ‘Gay-Straight Alliance’ is exclusive to other groups, and altogether excludes the notion of gender.” “Gender-Sexuality Alliance,” on the other hand, is inclusive of all genders and sexualities.
Photo by Photo Pool.
Additionally, Grace says the new acronym is simply “more interesting and thoughtprovoking.” Grace adds that this shift is not exclusive to Tabor, and that many clubs and organizations are modifying their names to make sure that all feel welcome. In addition to changing their name, clubs are also changing their goals to promote more inclusivity. This is certainly true of the GSA here at Tabor. Grace and Charlie are working hard to make sure the GSA leaves an indelible mark on campus and promotes love, diversity, leadership, and inclusion. Grace describes how the GSA’s goals and intentions this year relate to the name change in that it aims to “celebrate diversity in general” and “promote all diversity and inclusion.”
GSA Co-heads Charlie Dineen and Grace Douvos.
Grace and Charlie also hope to build a foundation and legacy for the GSA at Tabor, ensuring that its impact will be felt in years to come. “The GSA has never really been a concrete thing,” Grace explains. This year, though, the GSA has definite plans and goals. There will be regular GSA meetings, and the GSA’s new emphasis on leadership will make certain that “everyone in the GSA is leading to their full extent,” says Grace. A primarily student-based group, the GSA is hoping to celebrate the full diversity of the student body. Nonetheless, faculty are encouraged to become members, too. GSA meetings are a “safe place to share your views,” Grace says. Looking ahead, Grace and Charlie are already planning a Pride Week in the spring before the Day of Silence. Their passion for the GSA will surely be reflected in the group’s impact on campus.
Student Diversity Leadership Conference:
A student looks back on SDLC by Hana Liu This December, I found out that it’s not just the eleventh season of Grey’s Anatomy that can make me cry. When I went to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in Atlanta, tears rolled down my face everyday.
SDLC is a three-day conference that evokes true and genuine emotion from its participants, whether it be from an inspiring quote or from the new people you meet that truly love you for who you are. The conference is an opportunity for both students and teachers to understand more about diversity and learn how to be agents of change in their community. This year, the aim was to “advance human and civil rights” and “fulfill the dream together.” The conference was composed of lectures from keynote speakers and group discussions.
But SDLC is really an experience, so it is difficult to describe that experience to those who didn’t live it with you. SDLC is where I had my Eureka moment of why diversityrelated discussions, acts, protests, and more are so important. The first keynote speaker, Bryan Stevenson, shared a story that opened my eyes. Mr. Stevenson is lawyer who fights to get kids off death row. He told us a story of a boy who shot his father because he had beaten up his mother. The boy thought his mom died
Please recycle this paper.
Preview what’s on stage this winter, pps. 2 and 3. Relive Frozen Fenway, p. 4
because of all the blood and when his father went to bed, the boy took out the gun and pointed it at his father, who was asleep. When his father stopped snoring, he thought his father was going to wake up, so the boy shot him. And because his dad was a cop, the boy was immediately put on death row and tried as adult despite his devastatingly complicated story. After I heard this, tears dripped down my cheeks from sorrow and ultimate shame—sorrowful because of his tragic story and how helpless I felt as I heard his life ticking away, shameful because here I was pursuing a life where I can go into Kate Spade without a budget when this boy who lost his mom and killed his dad would possibly never see the light of day again. The story that Mr. Stevenson shared made me realize that there is still so much more to do in this world than living a comfortable life—so many more people to help and to get dragged out of the darkness they don’t deserve to be in. I learned to pay attention and engage in the diversity talks because it’s through listening to the struggle of others and watching the traumatizing footage that constantly reminds me that the work is not done yet and we all need to keep fighting.
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