At a recent rally against Amendment One to the North Carolina State Constitution, more than 100 students, faculty and staff showed up protesting the unfair disregard for the rights of LGBTQ citizens throughout the state.
While the rights enjoyed by the LGBTQ community at Elon are not to be questioned, they have not been fully realized, because of the delay of the opening of the LGBTQ office, currently coordinated by Kirstin Ringelberg, associate professor of art history.
In an interview with The Pendulum after taking over the position in August, Ringelberg acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of a physical space.
“The lack of visibility on campus is one of the things that allows our population to be invisible, and therefore to not be supported in the same way that it would be if it was more visible,” she said.
That is not to say the LGBTQ community of students has not led the charge of the movement.
This semester in The Pendulum, you’ve read about the Vote Against movement drumming up opposition to Amendment One, which would more strictly define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
You’ve heard from junior Laura Sturm, who is single-handedly coordinating a proposal for gender-neutral housing to present to the university administration.
You’ve scrolled through the QueErLON Blog, featuring real stories from your peers and professors about the LGBTQ community and its allies.
But what remains noticeably absent is the physical office space promised to the Elon LGBTQ community. Originally slated to open in January and now postponed until at least the fall, Ringelberg has big plans for the space.
“What I’m hoping for is that it’ll be an active and engaging space with lots of different kinds of students coming and going,” she said. “One of the things is there is going to be different groups and organizations in there. It’s going to be really lively.”
Within a few months of taking the position last August, Ringelberg told one of our reporters she had received hundreds of letters from students, faculty and staff. Without question, the desire and need for her position is there. So why has the development of the office yet to happen?
It comes down to the logistics of moving and not any grand conspiracy on the part of the university - the repurposing of a space on campus requires the relocation of numerous other departments. No one doubts the veracity of Elon’s promise, but it should without question be given more attention by administrators.
If Elon wants to laud an “unprecedented university commitment to diversity” in its Strategic Plan, the university must understand that means more than creating a picture-perfect image of diversity.
It means goals should be approached intentionally and with thoughtful planning. It means resources should be available on time and in full so students, faculty and staff at Elon aren’t left to their own devices when trying to build an active, personally-fulfilling LGBTQ community on campus.
When administrators first realized a delay of the opening was imminent, they should have moved swiftly to offer a temporary home for the office until the grand opening was set. It’s certainly not ideal, but it's better than nothing.
We recognize that a physical space will not automatically guarantee a flourishing, lively community for students. It must be met with the attention and passion of the students, faculty and staff, who are clearly doing their jobs. And it’s time for the university to step up to the plate and follow through on their promises.