CSUN USU allocates space for three groups

By Samantha Tata
April 26th, 2011
Section: News

Students and faculty demonstrated a large presence at the USU Board of Director’s meeting Tuesday to express their concerns about the importance of having a veterans’ and LGBTA resource center. Photo Credit: Mariela Molina / Staff Photographer

University Student Union (USU) board of directors allocated space in the student union for a veterans’ resource center, bicycle co-op and an LGBTQ resource center, the representatives of which appeared in droves to the make their case before the board Monday.

The tenants must submit a detailed plan to manage their new locations and secure funding by December of this year to secure the spaces they were given, said Executive Director Debra Hammond.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Resource Center

Before the board’s approval, CSUN was one of two CSU campuses without a queer resource center – the other being CSU Dominguez Hills, said LGBTA president Martel Okonji.

“The (resource center) would create a place to call home,” Okonji said during open forum. “It would be a positive addition to the CSUN campus and create a safe-space for LGBTQ students.”

Establishing safety and tolerance on CSUN’s campus dominated the discussion by students in favor of the center. Speakers cited the recent beating of a transgendered woman in a Baltimore McDonald’s as evidence this safe environment is lacking among the American public.

“Who’s to say that wouldn’t happen in Los Angeles?” said Andrea Koontz, a transgendered student who identifies socially as Alexander. “I would like to be able to walk across campus at night without fear of being attacked.”

Although they were without an official home, LGBTA has been active on campus. Last semester the group held a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the suicides that rocked the LGBTQ community when five gay teenagers took their lives in October 2010.

“It became clear that night that there are more students at risk,” said Karlee Johnson, vice president of LGBTA. “We don’t want CSUN students to become a statistic.”

Johnson said there are about 173 resource centers around the U.S., the highest concentration of which are located in Southern California, and CSUN students have demonstrated a desire to bring such a center to campus.

“We’ve collected 1,000 signatures and counting in support of this resource center,” Johnson said. “We will provide information on medical resources, the coming out process, trans awareness and political action.”

She noted that LGBTA has hosted such events as Gay Prom and CSUN’s chapter won the bid to hold the national Queer People of Color Conference next spring. The organization mentors students at Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, offering them tours of campus.

About 20 students showed their support by standing collectively when their representatives spoke before the board and donned purple T-shirts with the slogan “Legalize Gay, Repeal Prop 8,” the California initiative that bans same-sex marriage.

The LGBTQ resource center will be located across from the Fitness Centre in the space held by the Living Well Center, a Student Health Center subsidiary. Living Well will vacate the premises when space in the new student recreation center is available in early 2012.

Okanji said the group will secure funding through grant money and A.S. funding.

Veteran’s Resource Center

CSU Long Beach student veterans responded to the denial of a resource center by creating their own makeshift space on campus, said Carol Calandra. She didn’t want to see CSUN student veterans similarly turned away by university officials.

“Student veterans need help to navigate the huge system of education,” said Calandra, representing CSUN’s Veterans Club. “CSUN has 500 veterans on the books, but how many are not on the books?”

She said 70,000 veterans will return to the states within the next two years with full educational benefits thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a benefits system that provides upfront tuition payments, a monthly living allowance and a book stipend for veterans wishing to return to school.

In addition to educational demands, veterans also require medical and mental health services upon their return home. Calandra said about 20 veterans commit suicide daily.

“Americans join the armed forces for the education benefits, because those towers came down and for a chance at a better life,” she said. “They deserve these resources.”

Speakers noted that veterans are more apt to ask other veterans for help.

After serving three tours in Iraq, graduating senior Cory earned the Purple Heart but was less successful on campus.

“I was lost when I came to CSUN,” he said. “This (center) would empower us. We have a lot of needs, medically and financially.”

The Veteran’s Resource Center will be located across from the Fitness Centre in the former Cellular Flux space. Proposals for the center note that it would not be used for recruiting purposes, but rather mentoring.

Bike Co-op

CSUN’s campus has seen a surge in bicycle riders, from those who choose to cruise from the dorms to students who use two wheels as their predominant mode of transportation. Students from the Bicycle Collective proposed to make the campus safer for walkers and riders alike through the creation of a Bike Co-op.

“Our goal is to make CSUN one of the most bike-friendly campuses in the state,” said Hakeem Davis, Bicycle Collective organizer.

The group currently sets up shop on Sierra Walk and beckons cyclists to pull over for a tune up of squeaky breaks or flat tires and maintenance lessons.

Carlos Hernandez, president of the Bicycle Collective, said a resource center may eliminate abandoned bikes being left on campus, only to be stripped of parts, their skeletons left clinging to the racks.

“I saw a student riding with loose handles,” Hernandez said. “That’s a safety risk for him and everyone around him.”

Dennis Dalfonson, a transfer student from UC Santa Barbara, said his experience at UCSB has informed his understanding of CSUN’s cycling community.

“I see so much potential for CSUN to improve,” Dalfonson said. “As a bike mechanic for five years, I’ve seen a lack of education but (cycling) is an incredible, sustainable mode of transportation.”

The Bike Co-Op will inhabit the former space of Digital One photography in the back corner of the USU. Its base level rent is set at $30,000 – a bill that Davis said would be paid for by transportation and sustainability grants from the federal government, potential retail sales and A.S. funding.

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Sustainability

Ha, that is strange that they used the quote about being attacked, which was a bit far fetched. Practically everyone has a possibility of being attacked, whether they’re a woman, Hispanic, homosexual, yuppie, etc. I’m not a fan of the fear mongering tactic.

Personally, I really want to see the bike co-op develop. We are all being hit by conflict that evolves around bare resources that we rely on (oil, food, water), yet so many people focus on social matters that really play a small role in our existence. The reality is that gas and food prices are rising despite more people supporting gays or veterans, and we ultimately are facing more conflict because of problems with obtaining these resources. Whatever involves becoming more self reliant is great, whether it is riding a bike, growing your own food, or reusing your water. I’m looking forward to what the Bike Collective puts together.
Joseph Castagna 766

Greetings Sundial,

4-26-11 Sundial information has a few mistakes by the staff reporter
which need to be corrected for the record.

Please be advised that Carol Calandra has no affiliation to CSUN
Student Veterans Organization as she was a visitor from California
State University Los Angeles who is also looking for a Veterans Center
after she created the Veterans Center at Pasadena Community College.

Additionally there will be 70,000 Veterans returning to California in
the next two years from active duty capacities.

Senior Coy Reyes not Cory, had three tours of duty in Iraq along with
the Medal of Valor, Purple Heart, and several other medal. Mr. Reyes
is also the current President of CSUN Student Veterans Organization.

I mentioned at the end of the process that the Veteran Center would be
for the primary purpose of mentoring student veterans and allowing non
veteran students the opportunity to perform research in their subject
matter should it be relative to the military.

At present due to the Registrars office irregularities by not properly
asking the student at the time of registration that there is anywhere
between 400 to 1200 student Veterans on campus. I would hope that in
the registration process the registrars office would rephrase the
question at registration from “Are you a Veteran” to “Are you a person
who served in the armed forces and if so which branch did you serve
in?” As each semester CSUN SVO has had a few email responses stating ”
I am interested in Veterinary programs”.

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions
and thank you for the coverage of the event since so many need so
much.

Thank you,

Joe
David the small-L libertarian

“The (resource center) would create a place to call home,” Okonji said during open forum. “It would be a positive addition to the CSUN campus and create a safe-space for LGBTQ students.” “Who’s to say that wouldn’t happen in Los Angeles?” said Andrea Koontz, a transgendered student who identifies socially as Alexander. “I would like to be able to walk across campus at night without fear of being attacked.”

Jeez, what are they gonna do, put bars on the windows and have a secret password? I’d like to know when the last time an LGBTQ student was attacked on any CSU campus. I can’t remember any.

And please tell me how much of my tax money is going to the bike co-op. If this is such a great idea why do I have to pay for it?
- Nicki
  
  Just because an attack isn’t reported doesn’t mean it never happens, David.
  - David the small-L libertarian
    
    Of course, therefore you can claim the problem is as severe as you want it to be.
    - Nicki
      
      Google “violence against transgender community” and you will see that Alex isn’t making it more severe than it already is. Google “violence against LGBT community” and you will see a few more reasons why this resource center is a good idea.
      
      I want to point out that the QRC isn’t just to combat violence against the community. As Karlee Johnson pointed out, the resource center “will provide information on medical resources, the coming out process, trans awareness and political action”. This is a valuable addition to the CSUN community and I applaud the USU Board of Directors for making space and recognizing the hard work that was put into the proposal.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        Check out the latest FBI statistics and you’ll see just how relatively rare “hate crimes” are. Be sure to take note of what kind of crimes they are, the severity of such crimes and who the offenders and victims are. Keep in mind that the U.S.has a population of 307 million. I’ll await your report so you can prove how wrong I am.
        
        Alex fears “attack” on the CSUN campus because of her sexual orientation. Gimme a break…
      - Jake_trans_advocate
        
        @David. Alex is a HE. And he’s not fearing his safety for his sexual orientation, it has do with his gender identity being wrongly perceived. Educate yourself.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        So Andrea Koontz (aka Alexander) is a “he.” “He” fears for his safety because some may think he’s a “she” and attack him at night. Got it.
        
        I have now been “educated.”
      - Nicki
        
        “David”, I think you still need a bit more education on the transgender identity. This fear isn’t something that is made up. The violence committed against transgendered individuals is vile and so brutal. It also isn’t something that will go away simply because we have a QRC on campus. Transphobia takes time to combat and realize. It appears that you, “David”, will need more time to process this.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        Today’s dialogue has been sufficiently “educational,” I think.
        
        And I just want to be clear: I have nothing against those with non-traditional sexual orientation. I’m just not a big fan of the victim-mentality that’s pervasive among so many special-interest groups. I made a similar post last month with regard to the Take Back the Night march where others made up fantastical statistics to futher their cause: http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/03/csun-community-comes-together-to-take-back-the-night/
        
        I’m more interested in the truth than agendas. Moving on to the next issue…
      - Nicki
        
        We are talking about the transgender community. Gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things. You can’t seem to distinguish the two. There is no hidden agenda in this resource center…unless you count the things Karlee Johnson listed in the meeting (see article above). Having a resource center on campus isn’t going to perpetuate the victim-mentality at all. The facts are out there “David”. It just depends on whether or not you choose to believe the truth or not.
        
        If you are interested in it, I suggest reading this article. It is one opinion on the topic: http://www.questioningtransphobia.com/?p=2632
      - Old Glory
        
        So Alex is worried about being perceived as a woman and being attacked? Then why are we doing this under LGBTQ. Shouldn’t this be for Women’s resource center? Educate me.
      - Nicki
        
        I would like to point out that while individual resource centers are fantastic at providing safe places, community, and education on topics pertinent to those within the community, it doesn’t address the issue of intersectionality. We are more than just our gender, our race, our sexual orientation, etc. Let’s start thinking about how these identities work together, rather than just “this is a woman’s issue”.
      - Nicki
        
        Also, if you had read earlier comments Old Glory, you would notice that Alex identifies as a man.
      - Nicki
        
        Hello again “David”. Before I answer your question and “prove you wrong”, I would like some clarification on what you mean by “who the offenders and victims are”, specifically, “who the victims are”. I am well aware of the severity and violence of such hate crimes. It goes beyond “someone said ‘that’s so gay’ and I’m offended”. These can be brutal and vicious attacks on people because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        Happy to oblige: What I mean is that not all victims of hate crimes belong to the groups one might think of; e.g., whites are quite frequently the targets of black criminals which may or may not be a hate crime. Then there are heterosexuals as targets of non-heteros, some of which are classified as hate crimes.
      - Nicki
        
        I still don’t see why this matters “David”.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        It does matter, Nicki. I’ll tell you why on Monday, I hope. I’m quite busy till then and don’t have time to respond appropriately now.
      - David the small-L libertarian
        
        Okay, I’m back. I know you were waiting in anticipation. ;-)
        
        The reason it does matter that the truth is told about the paucity of hate crimes, particularly violent hate crimes, is that it is disparaging of society and harmful to those considering themselves victims.
        
        Ooops! I’m not done. Accidentally hit the SAVE button. More to come!
- NikkiS
  
  There was a brutal attack on a transgender student at CSULB last year. He was jumped, beaten and the word “it” was carved into his chest with a blade. (http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-csulb-student-slashed,0,5414609.story)
  
  That was most definitely a hate crime. Not only did it scar him literally and figuratively, but it sent a ripple effect of fear and anger through the LGBTQ community. I worked at a nearby UC campus at the time and many of the students I knew there were also profoundly effected by the attack, it’s called vicarious trauma. The resource center on campus allowed the students to have a safe space to come together and support each other. Everybody deserves to feel safe and although the existence of a center cannot always gaurantee physical safety it goes a long way in providing education, peer support programming, and a safe space that can always be counted on to be there. This is especially important for folks in the LGBTQ community who may not have a safe space even in their own homes if they are not out to their families.
  - David the small-L libertarian
    
    Ahh yes, I remember that one. I also remember how far-fetched that report occurred to me at the time as it still does today. Could it have happened? Absolutely. However, one has to believe that, at minimum, the following would likely have had to have occurred:
    1. The suspect would almost certainly have to know who the victim, Colle Carpenter, was and what he stood for.
    2. The suspect would probably have to know when and where Carpenter might be at the time of the attack. This would require that the suspect would have had to surveil his victim and somehow ensure that they were alone in the restroom together. Chances are that this set of circumstances wouldn’t present themselves on the first try. Since it appears that Carpenter doesn’t know the suspect, it’s unlikely that some random guy in a restroom, who just so happened to have an X-ACTO knife at the ready found himself alone with Carpenter and decided that this was his chance to attack a transgender.
    3. The suspect would almost certainly have had to be a CSU Long Beach student or otherwise frequent the campus in order to even know about Carpenter, let alone plan his attack. Apparently, Carpenter hasn’t seen the suspect again, even a year later.
    4. Despite all the publicity and a police artist’s sketch of the suspect based on the information Carpenter provided police have identified no one.
    5. No similar attacks have apparently occurred.
    I don’t know about you, but it sounds fishy to me. One might remember this 2004 incident in which Claremont McKenna College psychology professor Kerri Dunn, who had told police that her car was vandalized as she spoke at a March 9 forum on racism actually staged the incident by slashing the tires, breaking windows and spray-painting racist graffiti on her own car. The “hate crime” had drawn national attention, sparked campus protests and shut down the college.
    Regardless as to whether or not the Long Beach attack occurred, I still maintain that such attacks are extremely rare.
    - Nicki
      
      Does it matter how rare such vicious attacks are? Know that they happen often enough that a resource center is necessary.
      - Old Glory
        
        What is this resource center a “safe house?” I mean if we need safe places we should have them spread out across the campus. Is a member of LGBQTG going to run to the resource center for help?
        
        In my opinion you are placing yourself in greater danger because anyone who wants to harm you because of your orientation will be able to spot you coming ang going from the center. I agree with sustainability (below) anyone can get attacked on campus for any reason. We can “what if” it all day long. I think the bottom line is they should have marketed it as more of a center for those who want to have access to resources talk about and share experiences. Not marketed as a place to be safe.
Askoontz

I love how once again the sundail has gotten the facts wrong. thanks sundail for getting my name wrong.

sincerely,
A. Koontz

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