Harmony sponsers GayMU week
By Mary Czarsty, assisstant news editor
Posted on April 27, 2006

Gay? Fine by at least 760 people at JMU. Almost 800 students and faculty wore shirts Tuesday to show support for the “Fine by Me” project created to unite students, communities and religious groups across the nation.

“Last year, we only had 450 participants,” said Harmony alumni coordinator Kristen Brady. “It’s just amazing to see how this project took off in one year.”

The “Fine by Me” T-shirt campaign is part of a week-long effort by Harmony, an organization established to focus on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, to increase tolerance and knowledge throughout the JMU campus.

The week began with an opening speech by Gregory Czyszczonon, the coordinator for Hillside and Bluestone area residence halls and academic buildings. He urged students to not be silent, and to strive toward a better, more equal future.

“It was a small gathering, but it was really personal,” Brady said.

Wednesday was a day for particpants’ actions to speak louder than words. Any student willing to participate in the “Day of Silence” did not speak a single word in order to protest harassment of GLBT individuals in schools across the nation. Last year, over 450,000 students participated nationwide.

“We’re doing this to show how important it is to educate others in order to create a school environment where everyone is made to feel safe,” Harmony president Matt Winer said.

Participants did not speak from dawn until the “Breaking the Silence” ceremony on the commons. Graduate assistant Dan Murphy addressed the crowd. 

“I was honored to be asked to speak because I am fortunate enough to have found my voice,” Murphy said. “I have had the opportunity to share my own story with many different groups on campus, and I can see it as the least I can do to help bring about change to a sometimes chilly campus.”

Thursday is all about education. “We have a lot of events planned to get people talking and inform students about gay rights,” Harmony educational coordinator Rachael Flood said.

Harmony members will use chalk on walkways across campus to write facts about gay rights and Dr. Christine Robinson will present a documentary and lecture Thursday night about the history of the gay rights movement.

Steve Grande, director of Orientation and First-Year Experience, will give a speech Friday night on the commons to bring the week to a close.

“The whole point of the week is to raise awareness of the gay community at JMU,” Winer said. “We want to start a dialogue about GLBT issues among students.”

Last month, SGA passed a resolution to request a GLBT center on campus. Talks are already underway with administrators such as Vice President of Student Affairs, Mark Warner, to asses the need for a facility for GLBT students at JMU.

“We don’t have numbers for JMU specifically, but the figure most commonly used is 1-in-10 people who identify themselves at GLBT,” Winder said. “We’re excited to see that JMU is recognizing a need for resources for these students.”

GayMU sparked a positive reaction from students. “I saw a male couple walking down the Quad holding hands. It was reassuring to know that they’re comfortable here,” sophomore Sarah Bordeaux said.