About the AGLBC |
People who are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual are part of the Auburn Family and always have been at all levels of the University. Unfortunately, the sociopolitical environment at Auburn has not been one of inclusivity but of exclusivity for this segment the Auburn Family. This situation has led to feelings of stigmatization, isolation, and fear for the hundreds of people at Auburn who are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.
At Auburn University, a staff or faculty person could be fired from his or her position for simply being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual. Many staff and faculty live daily with the fear that discovery of their sexual/affectional orientation would lead to their job termination. There is little legal recourse via official Auburn University policies for an appeal of this type of decision as there is no protection from discrimination based on sexual/affectional orientation. The same holds true for students living in campus housing. A student could be removed from campus housing for being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual as there are no official Auburn University policies protecting students based on sexual/affectional orientation. Harassment and discrimination occur everyday on Auburn's campus. These can take the forms of: a letter written to the editor of a campus publication bashing members of the Auburn Family who are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual; verbal assaults hurled from a passing car; or the fear of punishment for writing for a class or a campus publication anything positive on Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual issues.
The Auburn Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Caucus was formed primarily to address and respond proactively to the aforementioned types of harassment and discrimination. The AGLBC also serves the greater goal of promoting equal rights for every member of the Auburn Family. The AGLBC in effect serves as a political and social spearhead at Auburn University working towards changing policies to be more inclusive for all members of the Auburn Family.
Since its inception, the AGLBC has been involved with a plethora of activities on the Auburn campus. The AGLBC advocated publicly in favor of adding sexual orientation to the non-harassment policy that was being considered by the Faculty Senate almost two years ago. Since then, the AGLBC has been involved in trying to get that policy ratified while it has been stalled since being overwhelmingly affirmed by the Faculty Senate. The AGLBC was also active in responding to the President's Committee on Diversity so that the Committee would be fully informed on the precarious status that Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual staff and faculty have on the Auburn campus. The AGLBC is working to reexamine Auburn's leave policies so that all members of the Auburn University are included when the need for family emergency leave or funeral leave arises. Most recently, the AGLBC brought two Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual cultural events to campus., One was a nationally touring photo exhibit entitled Love Makes A Family: Living in Lesbian and Gay Families, held at Foy Union and attended by over 150 people. Also, author and biblical scholar Dr. Daniel Helminiak was brought to campus to speak on his best selling book What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality. This event was attended by nearly 300 people from all over campus and surrounding communities. The AGLBC works closely with the Auburn Gay and Lesbian Association (AGLA), the campus student support group. Efforts also have been made to coalition-build with the Women's Caucus and the Black Caucus on issues of cultural awareness education and creating greater campus inclusiveness.
There is an abundance of work to be done: overt and covert individual and institutional discrimination, harassment, and violence against people who are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual are still allowed and sanctioned by the State of Alabama and its agencies. Progress and success, however, occurs everyday! The AGLBC is on the forefront of working with Auburn University to more genuinely embrace its mission of student, staff, and faculty development for all.
Membership to the Auburn Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Caucus is open to anyone affiliated with Auburn University regardless of sexual/affectional orientation.
Adapted from an article written for the Auburn Horizon newsletter by Dr. Barry Schreier, formerly a staff psychologist with the AU Drake Student Health Center.
Section 2. Individuals employed by or affiliated with Auburn University are eligible for membership in The Caucus. Persons not affiliated with Auburn University may become members upon approval by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Membership becomes active upon payment of annual dues to be determined by the organization.
Section 3. Nominations shall be submitted in writing or from the floor; nominee consent is required.
Section 4. Terms shall commence immediately after Fall elections and run through the academic year. Co-coordinators shall serve staggered two-year terms; however, in the first election, one Co-coordinator shall serve a one-year term. Recorder and Treasurer shall serve one-year terms.
Section 5. Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of The Caucus membership.
Section 6. A vacancy in any office shall be filled by a majority vote of members present at the meeting following the announcement of a vacancy.
Section 2. The Recorder shall record the minutes of each meeting, notify membership of upcoming meetings, and perform other duties assigned by The Caucus.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall manage and be responsible for the financial affairs of The Caucus as dictated by the membership. The Treasurer shall keep proper records and make books available to members upon request.
Section 2. Additional meetings may be called by the consensus of the Co-coordinators.
Section 3. The Caucus members in attendance at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting official business except where otherwise specified in this constitution.