Two separate demonstrations concerning students’ sexual orientation were held in Red Square on Friday, targeting prospective students visiting campus for the first Georgetown Admissions Ambassador’s Program weekend for the class of 2006.
GU Pride and the Georgetown Solidarity Committee organized a campaign to inform prospective students of the LGBT presence on-campus, according to GU Pride member Liam Stack (CAS ‘05).
Last Thursday evening, GU Pride and GSC members filled Red Square with messages, such as “Gay Hoyas Welcome You to GU,” written in chalk, posted fliers with similar slogans and hung cloth banners.
The chalking of Red Square had to be guarded throughout Thursday night after it was completed, according to Stack. He said that, during the night, passing students yelled at the group and attempted to erase portions of the chalking. Several walked by yelling “faggot,” according to Stack.
On Friday morning, students handed out LGBT resource information to prospective students and sent current Georgetown students on campus tours to ask questions about the LGBT community on campus.
Scott Army (CAS ‘05) and Matt Siravo (MSB ‘05) began another demonstration in Red Square early Friday afternoon representing heterosexual students. According to Army, the demonstration was spontaneous and not in response to any other group.
“Our mission wasn’t to conteract any group; it was more to [display] another side of Georgetown,” Siravo said.
Siravo held a sign which read “I am a man who likes and respects women. Celebrate me,” while Army passed out fliers with the same message. Approximately 10 to 15 other students joined Siravo and Army throughout the afternoon, according to Siravo.
Siravo and Army said that they were not trying to oppose anyone with their demonstration. “[The demonstration] was not intended to offend anyone. It was not to counter anything,” Army said.
Fliers with messages such as “There are Straight Hoyas, too” appeared around campus beginning Friday afternoon. Student demonstrators from both groups were not aware of who was responsible for the fliers.
The organizers of the LGBT student campaign said that they were not offended by the other students’ demonstration and initially found their message humorous, said Stack and GU Pride member Patrick Metz (CAS ‘04).
Stack and Metz said their feelings changed when a student walked into Red Square with a sign on his back reading “Exit Only” with an arrow pointing down.
“Then [the atmosphere] felt a little less jovial and a little more offensive,” Metz said.
LGBT student demonstrators said that they asked the student to take off the sign. Although the student complied, a complaint was later filed with the Office of Student Affairs for disorderly conduct, Metz said.
Rachel Bouttenot (CAS ‘03), an LGBT student demonstrator, filed a complaint concerning the “exit only” sign, according to Metz. Bouttenot called Vice President of Affairs Juan Gonzalez after an argument with the other demonstrators, Metz said.
“Bouttenot’s action does not represent either GU Pride or GSC. She was acting entirely on her own,” Metz said.
According to Metz, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life Bethany Marlowe came to Red Square to act as a mediator. Metz said that Marlowe spoke with both groups and an apology was issued by the student who had worn the sign.
“I’ve learned it’s legitimate in the free speech zone in Red Square to say whatever you want unless it directly threatens someone,” said Bouttenot in a GU Pride meeting Wednesday night.
Army and Siravo would not comment on the complaint or confirm their involvement, saying that the issue is not resolved.
Since the demonstrations were targeted at prospective students visiting Georgetown over the weekend, members of GAAP expressed concern over not being contacted by GU Pride or GSC.
“The fact that we weren’t contacted is surprising because we are a student-run organization. We would have loved to have been contacted by and communicated with the students involved,” said Mythri Jegathesan (CAS ‘03), a member of the GAAP executive board, during Wednesday’s GU Pride meeting.
GU Pride hopes to work more closely with GAAP in the future, said Joe McFadden, co-president of GU Pride and Voice staff member.
