Out In The Mountains : News - UVM Celebrates Diversity

     Rainbow flags hung everywhere in the Billings Student Center north lounge as students, staff and faculty were honored for their pro-diversity work at the end of April. Remarks and goals were framed in terms of “fighting heterosexism,” and gave attendees hope for the future of the university as a cradle of activism on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, and ally rights and acceptance.
     Faculty members Glen Elder (Geography), Esther Rothblum (Psychology), and Jackie Weinstock (Integrated Professional Studies) were honored by University Provost John Bramley for their leadership and support of the lgbtqia community at the school. The honorees were presented with black academic stoles with rainbow stripes.
     Students Dawn Johnson and Bill Tickner received special recognition for their activities in support of the lgbtqia community. Johnson, among other activities, directed the successful campus production of The Vagina Monologues. Tickner came out to his fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta), then embarked on a cross-country tour speaking on youth empowerment, before being elected president of the student association.
     Staff member Peter Blackburn received the Weinstock award for excellence in staff/faculty achievement toward a more open climate on campus. Blackburn has been on the staff since 1989, and wrote his dissertation on the quality of life for out lgbtq staff and faculty. Blackburn facilitated the inclusion of information on civil unions in the standard employee orientation information packet.
     The Student Advocacy Award was presented by two young students to Tom Robinson, who, they said, had been instrumental in helping them find the funding to continue their education at UVM when their parents refused to contribute because of their sexual identity.
     Ann Sweeney and Anne Early were presented with the Women's Center Award, Sweeney for her work on the women's center 'zine, Early for her work on the campus sexual violence awareness month activities. Stephanie Morgan was honored as Ally of the Year.