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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1997)
Ellen’s coming out gets some campus support The members of Gay/Les/Bi/Tran Resource Center applaud her effort. By Sarah Baker Staff Reporter From Matt on “Melrose Place” to the lesbian couple on “Friends ” gay and lesbian characters on television are becoming more and more com mon. But featuring a homosexual as a lead character on a TV show has never been done before — until now. Ellen DeGeneres, star of the sitcom “Ellen,” is coming out as a lesbian on both her show and in real life. The controversial episode of “Ellen,” which will air April 30 on ABC at 8 pjn., will be the first prime time sitcom to feature a central char acter who is openly gay. Lincoln resident Mary Pipher, au thor of “Reviving Ophelia; The Shel ter ^bf Each Other,” was featured in a Time magazine article concerning DeGeneres’ coming out. “I think it’s good to have conver sations in this country about gender issues, or race, or whatever is contro versial. So when television can do that in a way that is not polarizing—that is healing — I’m all for it,” Pipher told Time magazine. Gina Matkin, training coordinator for the Nebraska Unions and adviser of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, also said DeGeneres’ coming out is a defi nite step in the right direction. Matkin said her announcement would provide another positive role model for homo sexuals. “There are always people strug gling with the decision to come out,” Matkin said. Other students active in the center agreed with Matkin. “Ellen’s coming out is a small step, but an important one,” senior English major John Engle said. “It’s a step to ward more visibility for gays and les bians.” Group members said they thought that DeGeneres’ character Ellen Mor gan deciding to come out was differ ent from other homosexual television characters. They said the show will il lustrate her struggle with her newfound identity rather than portray her as comfortable with her sexuality. “The viewers will witness Ellen’s confusion,” Matkin said. “I think it will almost create a feeling of empa thy in them as they watch.” Members also said they felt DeGeneres would’do a good job of portraying the mixed emotions that are a part of die coming-out process. “Everyone’s coming-out story is different, and they can be tragic or funny,” Engle said. Members of the group also said they felt strongly about some televi sion stations that are refusing to show the episode. “I think it’s pure censorship if they don’t show the episode,” Resource Center President and sophomore En glish major Jeff Krotz said. In celebration of the episode, the Gay and Lesbian Resource Center is planning an “Ellen Coming-out Party” for April 30 at 7 p.m. with free food and drinks. The room will be posted in the Nebraska Union. ROTC cadet to attend camp at West Point ROTC from page 1 Because she did not join. ROTC until she was a sophomore, Artz said, she has had no prior experience to compare with the one she will have this summer. “I am curious, but nervous, as to how I will blend in there,” the 20-year old cadet said. That’s why it is so crucial, Artz said, to have a positive mental atti tude about attending the camp. Artz was first selected by a local board, headed by Barerra, a UNL pro fessor of military science, and made up of a group of assistant professors of military science at UNL. The selection was based on Artz’s academic record, ROTC performance, recommendations, physical aptitude and potential for service as an officer. Barerra said Artz’s nomination packet was then sent to the national level. There are three regions in the United States, Barerra said, and each region chose a sophomore cadet to at tend the training camp. The fourth ROTC region — comprised of 81 schools, including UNL — selected Artz. Artz, a member of Delta Gamma sorority at UNL, said she joined the ROTC program at UNL out of inter est and desire to prove to herself that she could do it. When she joined, she never dreamed that she would be attending a camp at West Point, she said. But now that she is going, Artz said she expects to come back with unlimited amounts of new informa tion. “I hope to improve my leadership skills, my overall Army tactical knowl edge and just soak up everything I can see.” Task force sets gender equity goals EQUITY from page 1 Faculty members agreed that the chairpersons of departments needed to be held partially responsible for the retention of the women in their depart ment. However, many members also said department heads were not given the training to successfully retain a diverse staff. “I do think chairs benefit from edu cation given about such things,” Pratt said. Christina Brantner, interim direc tor for the Women’s Studies depart ment, was concerned about holding department heads responsible for us ing the education to benefit the cli mate of their departments. “If we aren’t putting any teeth in it, we aren’t going to make any progress,” Brantner said. Other issues discussed addressed the goal of the task force to maintain u If we aren't putting any teeth in it, we aren't going to make any progress Christina Brantner interim director, Women’s Studies department a safer campus for all people on cam pus. Ken Dewey, geography professor, is finishing his term as the adviser for the Student Judiciary Board. He was concerned with the lack of cases that are presented to the board each year. There has been one case in the past year, as compared to an aver age 200 cases on other campuses the same size, Dewey said. He said the campus has almost a false sense of security because of the lack of cases. Students and other faculty mem bers also expressed their concern re garding this issue. The task force met with administration prior to the open hearing. Closed hearings were held for those who had appointments. APPLY NOW!!! Student Summer Employment in Housing May 12 - August 22 Custodial.... $5.70/hour Building Maintenance....$6.10/hour • Project work in one or more of the building trades. •Part-time weekend custodial schedules available for summer school studentsl •Occasional overtime available! Apply in person between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.to : j • Mike Kansier at Harper-Schramm-Smith Maintenance For further information, call Central Housing Maintenance, 472-3753. Pride S7 promotes idea of accepting homosexuality From Staff Reports The university’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organiza tions are sponsoring a series of ac tivities called Pride ’97 to promote homosexual awareness on campus. Organizers say the event’s goal is to educate and reach out to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln community in a peaceful manner. Andy Bosselman, president of Someone You Know, said the main purpose of the activities is to bring understanding to students about gay and lesbian issues. The events are being sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center and the Women’s Center and two new student groups. Someone You Know is a group that wants to increase the visibility of non-heterosexuals by reaching out to the community in a non-con frontational manner, and ALLIES Against Homophobia and Heterosexism is a group of hetero sexual people supportive of gay i" — — ~ —■ ■ -—■ ■ ■- ■ - —- - people and committed to ending gay intolerance. The schedule of events includes: ■ Today, a discussion with gay UNL students at 6:30 pjn. in the Harper/Schramm/Smith food ser vice building. ■ Wednesday, a panel discus sion on same-sex marriages will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union main lounge. ■ Thursday, a “Speak Out” open microphone session for any one to share experiences as a les bian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight person, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the lawn be tween the Canfield Administration Building and the Nebraska Union. The discussion was originally scheduled for Monday, but post poned because of the rainy weather. There also will be a free con cert tonight featuring Alias Jane, a rock ‘n’ roll band featuring lesbian members. The concert will be on the greenspace between Nebraska Union and Selleck Hall from 6:30 to sundown, weather permitting. Attention May Graduates! Cap & Gown Rental Measurements Monday 21st and WJV4 Tuesday 22nd Wm » 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Lower Level | Nebraska Union ] AA© The Support Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesday Meeting 12-1 P.M. Health Center L.L. Conf. Rm. F For more information, call Community 472-7440 |Now is the time[ Women's Studies International Colloquium Series Lerke Foster, Teaching & Learning Center, UNL Academic Women: Perspectives from International Teaching Assistants Wednesday, April 23,3:30 p.m., City Union
