Last year talk on campus of diversity and inclusion was centered on the idea of racial representation, while other groups that fall under that same umbrella were not as publicly discussed; one being DePauw University’s LGBTQ community.
LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and encompasses gender and sexuality across all spectrums. DePauw’s LGBTQ community is one that is acknowledged but not entirely discussed. Many students on campus are unaware of DePauw’s resources for LGBTQ students, as most are spread through word of mouth.
“It’s not hidden, but it’s not as promoted as it needs to be,” said sophomore Zoe Hines.
Hines is a member of United DePauw, one of the largest LGBTQ student run organizations on campus. United DePauw has an between 80 and100 members and welcomes LGBTQ students and allies. The club works to create an open space where students can feel safe and included.
Hines says that DePauw offers outlets for students, but the campus as a whole generally don’t know about them.
“The resourses are there, it’s just getting the people there and getting it known,” she said.
According to DePauw’s campus climate survey from last year, 9 to10 percent of those who completed the survey identified themselves as being on the LGBTQ spectrum. The survey was completed by one in four DePauw students.
“That population is definitely here,” said Vivie Nguyen, director of the Cultural Recourse Center and coordinator of LGBTQ Services at DePauw.
Nguyen organizes several events every year to promote LGBTQ awareness including the Coming Out Monologs, which are held on National Coming Out Day and include performances such as monologues, poems and dances preformed by students, faculty and staff. She also works to bring speakers and LGBTQ activists to campus that covers a wide range of topics. Last year Nguyen brought Mary Lambert, a singer / songwriter who has worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in chronicling her experience growing up homosexual.
Nguyen says that she organizes events based on “looking at a broader lenses on what the campus needs.”
One resource is DePauw’s Queer Center. Found on the top floor of the Dorothy Brown House, located on Hanna Street next to the house for the Association of African American Students (number 45 on the campus map). The Queer Center offers a type of retreat for LGBTQ students and allies. There are different recourses available within the center and students are welcome to live in the house. United DePauw uses the Queer Center for Wednesday bi-monthly meetings that range from movie showings to sit-down discussions
Not all students are aware of the LGBTQ resourses on campus, nor do they think that the university is doing a good enough job of making DePauw inclusive toward LGBTQ youth.
“I feel that the campus doesn’t care much,” said sophomore Drew Smith.
Smith is openly gay and says that sometimes he doesn’t feel fully represented.
“I don’t feel that equality and resources for LGBT students are real priorities on campus,” he said.
Smith notes that in his time at DePauw he has actively looked to join an LGBT club and had difficulty finding organizations such as United DePauw and feels that the information or services for LGBT students is “very limited.”
“I haven’t heard of rallies or activities or events geared toward LGBT youth since coming to campus,” Smith said, with the exception being United DePauw’s Drag Ball, which was held spring semester last year.
Nguyen said one of the reasons it’s hard to know about some of these resourses is because they are not shown during campus tours, so incoming first-years are unaware.
“I would say that DePauw tries harder to save face than to actually support students and their individuality,” Smith said.
DePauw’s LGBT community will continue to be a force on campus, as the university works to become a more diverse and inclusive place for all.
“We’re doing the best we can,” Nguyen said.