09
UVM Students Charged with Hazing in "Brokeback" Scandal
Another proud day to be an alum. WCAX reports:
Four officers of a University of Vermont fraternity have become the first to be charged with violating Vermont's new hazing law. UVM police say the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity hazed pledges by making them dress up as gay cowboys for a party.Posted on 05/ 9/06 at 8:48 AM | Comments (0)
Monday, University police released a report detailing the findings of a month-long investigation that confirmed the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity-- also known as FIJI-- hosted a pledge party that featured gay-bashing and underage drinking.
"We issued tickets for hazing," explained UVM Police Chief Gary Margolis.
"It's a civil violation of the state of Vermont, a $1,000 fine. Those were issued to the four officers of the board of FIJI," he added.
Margolis says the investigation confirmed rumors of hazing and underage drinking at a pledge party in March at the fraternity. The Chittenden County State's Attorney declined to file criminal charges for underage drinking for a lack of evidence. But Margolis says it was his call to issue the hazing tickets, and he did so, because he believes the fraternity clearly violated Vermont's new hazing statute. (Story continues at WCAX.com)
Tagged: UVM
04
Bleeding Green-and-Gold
Why am I leaving Vermont? What were my cryptic "personal and political reasons"? Well, here's the main one -- as written, below, in a wordy piece for UVM's LGBTQA Community Newsletter, which was adapted from an earlier blog post -- the American Red Cross, and their discriminatory presence on the UVM campus. I've found myself becoming more and more of an activist at UVM in recent months, but ultimately the fight has been too much for me. I need to take care of myself, and I need to go.
But I do hope that I leave behind an impact. People say that I will. Today I received two UVM leadership awards for my work on this issue. Awards mean nothing, ultimately, but I am hopeful that I have affected real change at this institution. Whether I'm here or not, the fight will go on.
Here's the piece, "Bleeding Green-and-Gold":
As of June 30th, I will no longer be an employee of the University of Vermont, an institution that has been my home for six and a half years, as a student and then as a staff member. I recently made the difficult decision to leave a great job in an excellent department, the catalyst being discrimination I face on this campus as a gay man, discrimination that is allowed and publicly supported by UVM's current administration.Read More
Sexual orientation is a protected class at UVM, according to our non-discrimination policy, and has been since March 1987. In 1992, a Vermont state law was passed also protecting sexual orientation. Further, the core values of the University, "Our Common Ground" -- values I believe in very deeply -- pledge a commitment to fight against "oppression, degradation, and harassment" -- "injustice" -- of all kinds.
However, the University of Vermont currently allows the American Red Cross to hold and aggressively promote blood drives on campus. The Red Cross, in accordance with federal Food & Drug Administration guidelines, currently bars any "male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977" from giving blood for life. In other words, any gay or bisexual UVM student, faculty, or staff member is not allowed to donate, and therefore not allowed the choice to participate in an activity that is taking place on campus. UVM publicly supports this discrimination against gay and bisexual men, according to statements by its administration printed in the Burlington Free Press and other media.
Posted on 05/ 4/06 at 3:01 PM | Comments (11)
Tagged: UVM , Vermont
01
My Last Day of Days
It's odd to be a "lame duck" now. I'm here for another six weeks or so, but a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders as the semester ends. As Yelli says, Saturday was my "last day of days"... The end is here.
Posted on 05/ 1/06 at 11:14 AM | Comments (2)Tagged: UVM , Vermont , Work