The Griffin: volume 65, issue 06 - Oct. 21, 1994

              Tina Barfoot awaits the airing date of her Oprah Winfrey Show appearance. photo by ken kraft The Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., College president, Patricia A. Rissmeyer, dean of students, and Robert M. Greene, chair of the Board of Trustees, invited approximately fifteen students to the Student Center Conference Room for a luncheon Tuesday to discuss various issues regarding current and future student life at Canisius. The luncheon was designed as an informal setting for the College policymakers to put their ears to the ground and get direct student input. Topics discussed included the College alcohol policy, parking, dorms, the residence telephone system, the bookstore and food service. The discussion followed no formal structure as students voiced their concerns about the future of student life at Canisius College. Fr. Cooke enjoyed "the opportunity for myself and the chairman to talk directly with students and learn more about their concerns. The reason we're here is to meet Barfoot summarizes her reasoning for her activism on campus: "For the most part, the student body would be open-minded if they were educated." In an attempt to provide support for homosexual students, Barfoot and a staff adviser worked together to create an unofficial support group. The advisor emphasized that they are not looking for a social group or official club recognition. Instead, they work quietly,with the knowledge of Rissmeyer, the Counseling Center, and Campus Ministry.McConnell explains the main dilemma of homosexual students on campus: "The problem is that where faculty and students - people - do not feel comfortable making racist or sexist or anti-Semitic comments in public.. .they have no qualms about saying things that are anti-gay...There is a very good chance that someone in that room is gay or lesbian." McConnell believes it is important to be a visible role-model for homosexual students. 'The [gay] students at Canisius who are out there - and they are out there," he emphasized, "need to see that maybe there aren't limits on what they can do." McConnell makes himself available because "sometimes people need to have someone to talk to." ence on the faculty will be enough to cause anger... People will demand that I be fired for the simple reason that I am gay." McConnell is, however, fairly secure in his tenure. Homophobia is still a factor in McConnell's life on campus. "I know that just my exist- "I make it clear when I talk that I'm talking about myself," McConnell continued, "I know that on this issue I don't speak on behalf on the College." 'To the best of my knowledge," McConnell said, "there was a very small handful of negative calls. There were also some calls that were supportive." Barfoot is not the first member of the Canisius community to "come out" as homosexual in the media; in April of 1993 Dr. Jeffrey J. McConnell, chair of the department of Computer Science, was interviewed in The Buffalo News as a result of his participation in a homosexual-rights march. In the article, McConnell's position at Canisius was mentioned. Barfoot also fears that people will see her as a lesbian above anything else. "People who get to know me first get to know me as a person. I want people to know me as a person.. .This is only a piece of who I am." Barfoot remains concerned about reaction on campus to her openness about being a lesbian. Violence toward homosexuals "is something I could definitely see happening on this campus....There's a lot of gay students on campus who aren't out because they're afraid to be," Barfoot said, noting however, "no one has confronted me face-toface."that we will get calls" after the show airs, Cain stated. Middle States committee to review campus Canisius sophomore Tina Barfoot is one of approximately 20 students featured in a soon-to-be-aired episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show dealing with homosexuality in schools. Winfrey's producers contacted Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York, Inc. (GLYS) to find guests for their show; GLYS recommended Barfoot and Chris Goffredo, a homosexual student from the University at Buffalo. Barfoot and Goffredo had collaborated to form the Gender Roles and Sexuality Program (GRSP), which Barfoot described as "a program that we take into local high schools and colleges" to educate students. The show's producers were interested in death threats received by Barfoot and Goffredo last year when they created an anonymous hotline. The hotline, announced through flyers hung on campus last year, attracted 300 - 400 hang-up calls and several death threats. "It was fairly terrifying when we first got the death threats," Barfoot said. Patricia A. Rissmeyer, dean of students, reported, '1 was informed about [the show] and informed Dr. [Thomas E.] Miller [vice president for Student Affairs] and Public Relations....We do know that there was a negative response to the flyers that were put up [last year] but that was pretty anonymous."The possible reactions to Barfoot's public appearance have been considered by the administration; although Barfoot does not mention Canisius by name, she does refer to it as the Jesuit college in Buffalo. Eileen Cain, director of Public Relations, explained that any reaction from her department would be premature at this time. "Media relations can be reactionary.. J don't know what the local spin is going to be.. .Anytime [the College is mentioned] anywhere, we get phone calls.. .I'm anticipating "Harassment" is prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct, and includes harassment against homosexual students, explained Rissmeyer. "Students have the right to be safe here, and students have the right to lead lives free of harassment.... Any incident would be dealt with severely." "We put a great deal of effort into finding out what our students want, and we try to meet those needs accordingly," said Miller. Lengthy discussions were held on the lack of space at the College for student meetings, as well as students' concern about being unable to use their meal plans exactly as they wished. Increased visibility for Public Safety was also discussed, while the group acknowledged that overall security is good at Canisius. High prices in the bookstore prompted an idea that a $200.00 "credit" be included in tuition to defray some of the outof-pocket cost of books. Numerous ideas for Main-Humboldt or Griffin Hall-type apartments were proposed. Discussion of the College alcohol policy found a need to better publicize the severe ramifications of violations of that policy. Theresa Wolnie wicz, U ndergraduate Student Association president, feels the administrators "are beginning to recognize more and more that the student voice is important...Student input and student opinions, when used, are beneficial to making the campus more agreeable for the students themselves." "Students have always been involved with the running of the College," said Dr. Thomas E. Miller, vice president for Student Affairs. "This is an execution of a long-standing commitment... this is not a new idea." the needs of the students; we very much want to listen to them." The team is chaired by Msgr. David A. Rubino, president of Gannon University. The remaining seven members are Lillian N. Cassel, associate professor of the department of Mathematical Sciences at Villanova University; Joan H. Coll, associate professor of Management at the W. Paul Stillman School of Business; Richard HofTan, vice president and Chief Financial Officer and lecturer in physics at Franklin and Marshall College; James M. McRoberts, vice president for Student Affairs and assistant professor of Education at Rider University; Terrence F. Mech, director of the library at King's College; Joseph B. Morris, professor emeritus of Chemitru at Howard University; and Richard H. Passon, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and professor of English at the University of Scran ton. The focus of the study is academic programs and the overall product of the College. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, a team of eight administrators from institutions similar to Canisius will be on campus. These representatives will evaluate Canisiusbymeetingwithfaculty, students, and various administrators. This year's report includes a description of the College; reports on academic programs and support; faculty and staff; library, media, and technology; enrollment management; student affairs; governance and administration; finances and fund raising; and physical plant, facilities and equipment, and a preview of the next 10 years. The Middle States program works when colleges unite to regulate and accredit one another. Every five years there is a periodic review report; the last one from Canisius was submitted in 1990. Dr. Jerome L. Neuner, associate vice president for Academic Affairs describes the program as "an idea that has contributed to excellence, freedom, and autonomy of American higher education." The United States, unlike other countries, has no Ministry of Education to accredit its colleges. For this reason, organizations such as the Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools provide voluntary, non-governmental self-regulation. The Griffin Serving the Canisius Community Since 1933 1:1 | 7 TTT-P I  by Heather R. Williams Griffin News Editor  FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1994 VOLUME LXV, NUMBER 6 Sophomore takes stand on Oprah by Paul F. J. Beres Griffin News Reporter Students voice opinions Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. Griffin file photo by Rebecca Puchalski Griffin News Reporter Mediation is here? (see page 3) Music ensemble (see page 7) Midnight Madness (see page 12)