The grassroots movement to include sexual orientation in Boston College's nondiscrimination clause has earned the support of almost 200 faculty and staff members in the last week. Today and tomorrow, students will have the chance to vote on this clause in a referendum on the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) ballot. The leaders of this campaign wanted other voices to have a say, and the faculty responded overwhelmingly in favor.
"We've only had a very positive response," said Nick Salter, A&S '07, who helped spearhead this movement. "They have full-heartedly gone behind this."
On Feb. 18, supporters of the campaign began sending e-mails to faculty they thought would be in support of the amendment to the clause. The e-mail included a briefing of the movement and the referendum that will appear in the ballot.
"Several people have stepped up and gone out of their way," said Salter, mentioning that six department heads passed the e-mail on to their staff, and at least two priests suggested names of other Jesuits who would be interested.
"It is very encouraging to see that administrators are voicing their concern and support for this issue," said Mike Yaksich, director of GLBT issues and A&S '05. "This is another extension of the faculty supporting the students they see every day. They're part of the BC community, the family we get to know while we're not at home. They're playing their role as family members do in supporting each other."
Several faculty members cited the Jesuit principles of BC as the essential reason for this change.
"At this point in the campus, if people don't agree that it should be included, they will assume the message is being sent that it's OK to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation," said Stephen Pope, a theology professor who signed the endorsement. "From a Christian and a Catholic standpoint, we have to affirm the fundamental dignity of every human being."
Rev. John Howard, S.J., of the Honors Program, highlighted the issue of consistency within the University.
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