GLBT holds rally to build support

Supporters of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community gathered for a vigil outside of the Kelley School of Business' student induction ceremony at the IU Auditorium Friday night. \nDespite appearances, many in the group said the protest was not about Kelley School of Business professor Eric Rasmusen's controversial Web log. Rasmusen wasn't in Bloomington during the vigil.\nDuring preparations for the event, Residential Programs and Services Diversity Educator Barry Magee said the event was to show solidarity in the GLBT community.\n"It's not about (Rasmusen)," he said. "We're here to support the GLBT students all over campus, but particularly in this case, because this is where the latest incident occurred. If we wanted to protest Rasmusen, we would do it in front of his office."\nIn the Rasmusen case, Magee said free speech is not as important as the damage done to student-faculty relations.\n"I think my first priority as a teacher is to provide an environment where all students learn," he said. "I have rights, but also a responsibility not to harm students."\nDoug Bauder, director of the GLBT Support Services Office, said unlike similar incidents, the administration has not mustered enough of a response.\n"I don't think there's been enough support from the administration in the past two weeks," he said. "(IU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm's) words were late in coming, and they weren't enough."\nBauder told the story about a student from Colorado who moved back home because of negative pressures on homosexual students. Though sorry to see him leave, Bauder said the necessary support is available.\n"I think there's more support here than anyone realizes," he said.\nSenior Kendra Clarke said although the Rasmusen incident sparked this event, there would have been some other rallies at another time to support GLBT students. \n"It's a visible way to make everyone aware," she said.\nClarke said this rally, as well as any other one, is really about larger issues.\n"Homosexuality is not how you dress, it's not a visible manifestation in most things. But it does affect you legally," she said. \nWhen the GLBT group marched to the Auditorium, House Manager Jon Larkin said he wasn't surprised. He said protests are pretty common. \n"The campus provides these public areas because of it," he said. \nIU Police Department cadets are on call at every Auditorium event, so security was in place far in advance of the protest.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig, who was present at the Auditorium steps, addressed the tensions between the GLBT supporters and the administration.\n"Advocates probably always feel like systems are too slow," he said. "We might protect free speech, but don't agree with everything (Rasmusen) said. We don't do any services by sweeping these accusations under a rug."\n-- Contact staff writer George Lyle IV at glyle@indiana.edu.