As the students lie in the middle of the student union to protest the closing of the Adult and Women Service Program, it is hard to overlook the irony of an institution that boasts diversity, but is closing such a program is hard to overlook. For those not familiar with the term “diversity”, Merriam-Webster’s Online dictionary defines diversity as the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: variety; especially *: the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization.On Nov 15, students from across the university came together as one, to protest the closing of this program and the refusal of the administration to work on a physical Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Trans-Gender nd Questioning (LGBTQ) center in the school. “I’d like to lay down with them,” said Dean Kelly, as a voice rumbled over a megaphone with protest chants that did not to capture the attention of those that were in line to order their coffee. The protest comes just days after an overwhelming amount of students voted in the SGA referendum to keep the program that caters to women (60 percent of the student body) and adults.
As of now, there are current talks of an online, or “virtual,” LGBTQ center. “It’s essentially putting us back into the closet,” remarked one student on the possibility of the online center. The center was first brought up in the President’s town hall meeting and was met with warm reception by those in the audience. There is currently no exact explanation of how an online cultural center would work.
“It’s important that, with the budget being all messed up and all, that Northeastern still keep some sort of dignity,” a student who wished to remain anonymous said “I just hope it’s worth it.”
View footage of the protest here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTcPOfjzRg4