The University of Notre Dame’s Core Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Questioning Students will lead a number of campus activities this week (April 11 to 15) as part of “StaND Against Hate Week.”
Co-sponsored by the Core Council and Notre Dame’s Allies of the Coalition, Office of Campus Ministry, Feminist Voice, Gender Relations Center, MeCha, Men Against Violence, Division of Student Affairs, Office of the President, Progressive Student Alliance, Student Government, Student Union Board and University Counseling Center, the week is dedicated to heightening awareness of the power of hate in all forms, particularly against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and serves to create an inclusive spirit at Notre Dame for all people, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. All events are free and open to the public.
Planned activites are:
April 11
• Ally pledge signing and Day of Silence card distribution, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., South Dining Hall and LaFortune Student Center
• Coffee House, 7 to 9 p.m., Geddes Hall — An opportunity to kick-off the week’s events by joining together in coffee and conversation to discuss our efforts to fight “hate” and discrimination at Notre Dame.
April 12
• Ally pledge signing and Day of Silence card distribution, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., South Dining Hall and LaFortune Student Center
• Film: “The Laramie Project,” 7 to 9 p.m., Montgomery Auditorium, LaFortune Student Center — “The Laramie Project” film explores the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager, and the reactions of people in Laramie, Wyo., to his death. The movie examines the effects of violence and hate crimes on the LGBTQ community. Shepard’s mother, Judy, will speak on campus later in the week.
April 13
• Free T-shirt distribution, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Field House Mall
• “In Violence, We Forget Who We Are,” 7 to 8:30 p.m., Andrews Auditorium, Geddes Hall — Sarah Brook, a 2003 Notre Dame graduate and sexual violence counselor for the NYC Anti-Violence Project will share some of her expertise on hate-violence directed at LGBTQ people nationwide, and reflect on violence at Notre Dame, with the assistance of two student respondents, Brandon Buchanan and Scott Mitchell, who are both Core Council members
April 14
• An Evening with Judy Shepard, 7 to 9 p.m., Room 101, DeBartolo Hall — Shepard is the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime. She has become a nationally recognized speaker, urging an end to anti-gay violence and promoting greater understanding.
April 15
• Day of Silence procession and prayer Service, 3 to 4 p.m. — Meet in silence in front of the Main Building for a silent procession to Geddes Hall for a prayer service.
Contact: Sr. Sue Dunn and Rachel Washington, Core Council co-chairs, Dunn.54@nd.edu or bboston1@nd.edu; or Brandon Buchanan, Core Council member, 574-631-5550