Jen Cornett / Roundup
One of the recent additions to the Pierce College student clubs is the Gay-Straight Alliance club, also referred to as the “Rainbow Army.”
The club meets every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in room Math 1412, and food and drinks are provided.
“Do you: Think stereotypes are wrong? Hate discrimination? Want to be in a comfortable environment? Want to meet new people? Think it’s time for a change? Want to make a difference? Come check us out!” reads the club flyer.
Although this same club existed at Pierce seven years ago, it ceased to exist when the founders left.
It has been re-established by President Megan Hutchings and co-founder Ben Mitani.
“I wanted to start a club that I could feel comfortable in,” said Mitani.
“I’m not accepted for who I am. My hardships and other individual’s hardships inspired us to re-from a group that is about being a support system for each other.”
According to Mitani, the goals of the club are to bring about more awareness to the gay community without excluding anyone else of a different sexual orientation.
The club organizes and supports AIDS walk and Walking-Shield, a fundraiser that involves collecting or donating back packs and filling them with school supplies, blankets, toothbrushes and candy for poverty-stricken kids in North Dakota.
“Our goal is 20 backpacks,” said Hutchings.
“We’re going to try and get more than that. We accept donated backpacks also.”
The faculty advisor for Gay-Straight Alliance is English Professor Richard Follett. Although he has schedule conflicts and will not be able to attend every meeting, Pierce counselors Colleen Rooney and Manuel Flores, 61, will be participating in his place.
“The Gay-Straight Alliance is the best part,” said Flores.
“It’s not easy to keep a group like this because of the nature of community colleges. I have seen two suicides in the past and keeping a group like this going is extremely important.”
According to Flores, students are not the only ones who are affected by the lack of support the Gay-Straight Alliance has received.
“It’s hard to keep the gay faculty together despite all of the meetings we have throughout the district. We want to support the students.”
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The club’s contact email is [email protected]. Another contact is the Gay-Straight Alliance MySpace at myspace.com/rainbow_army.
Members of the Gay-Straight Alliance Student Club at Pierce College in the math building room 1412 on Oct. 12, spending time getting to know each other after their meeting. Club’s goal is to bring awareness to the gay community without excluding anyone else. (Manny Sanchez)
