ECU GSA creates positive change

A place to belong and feel accepted

As the president of East Central University’s (ECU) Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Zachariah Champagne believes GSA’s serve a significant purpose on campus.

“The GSA is having a place to belong and a place to feel accepted,” said Champagne.

With an idea to pursue change, this young college student joined the ECU GSA early in his college career and has been the president since 2011. In that time he has seen a lot change, including Employment Services releasing a new Affirmative Action policy including a non-discrimination statement that includes sexual orientation, a Student Handbook revised to include the change and this semester, the Faculty Handbook is revised to include the change.

“The GSA maintained a high profile on campus throughout this whole period by participating in many campus wide events such as homecoming and our fundraisers,” added Champagne.

Here is a timeline of how policy change happened at ECU:

• 2010: Panel Discussion about Homosexuality and Religion
• 2011: Panel Discussion about Student Organizations and Homosexuality
•  Fall, 2012: Poetry reading on campus by Paula Sophia for Coming Out Day
•  Fall, 2012: Carl Lewis, ECU student and GSA member writes non-discrimination bill for Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature: It passes and gets best bill award
• January, 2013: Presentation to Student Senate. Student senate passes non-discrimination clause
• Spring, 2013: Administration won’t change things
• August, 2013: Employment Services releases a new Affirmative Action policy including a non-discrimination statement that includes sexual orientation
• Fall, 2013: Student Handbook is revised to include the change
• Spring, 2014: Faculty Handbook is revised to include the change

East Central University is a four-year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south-central region of Oklahoma. In the 1990’s, the ECU ‘GSA’ was a group started by Rich Alford, once referred to as the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), on the ECU campus. It was renamed the Gay-Straight Alliance in the fall of 2001. Currently, the faculty sponsor for the group is Dr. Christine Pappas.

Champagne added, “Why were we successful? We built coalitions, we were patient, we were strategic and we stayed in communication with powerful parties even when it seemed like nothing was happening.

“No minority ever wins without getting the majority on its side.”

The GSA president added in conclusion, “And, we never gave up.”

by Robin Dorner, Editor in Chief

The Gayly – April 4, 2014 @ 1pm