Pride Coalition

The Pride Coalition is a group of volunteer students, faculty, staff, and administrators committed to the full inclusion and equality of the GLBT population at BSC.

As a subcommittee of the College Diversity Council, the Coalition embarks on diversity initiatives that support BSC's GLBTA community in accordance with the College's Strategic Plan for Diversity. Joining the Coalition gives you the opportunity to put your ideas to action and make a difference in the lives of students, faculty, and staff at Bridgewater State College.

The Pride Coalition welcomes persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds. Join us! 

Mission Statement
The Pride Coalition is a grassroots organization made up of students and employees who represent Bridgewater State College's (BSC) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies (GLBTA) community. The mission of the Pride Coalition is to help create a more welcoming, inclusive, and safe campus for the GLBTA community. To achieve its goals, the Pride Coalition collaborates with the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, the GLBTA Pride Center, academic offices, and other departments and groups. As part of the College Diversity Council, the Pride Coalition formulates and makes recommendations to the Diversity Council when appropriate. The Pride Coalition operates independently, setting its own goals and agenda, but integral to its work is to support the College's Strategic Plan for Diversity. Membership is open to all who are interested in working on GLBTA issues.

Goals for 2009-10
1. Continue to increase support to transgender students
    a. Gender neutral bathrooms in all new buildings and building renovations.

This initiative was approved by the President in Spring 2009. All new and renovated buildings will be constructed with at least one single occupancy gender neutral restroom. Additionally, all existing buildings with single occupancy restrooms will no longer be gender segregated if they meet Massachusetts codes. Note, multiple stall restrooms are unaffected by this policy. Our task for this academic year is to serve as consultants and assistants when needed as building plans are developed.

    b. Develop transgender-sensitive student records policies such that a legal name and gender change are not required to change a student's name or gender in College record systems. Specifically, provide preferred name and gender fields in Banner and use preferred name and gender whenever legal name and gender are not required.

This initiative received the support of the President to move forward in Spring 2009, therefore, the College community is continuing to meet to discuss providing  preferred name and gender fields in Banner. Our task is it facilitate discussions and educate the campus community about this necessary service for our students.

2. Create a Bias Response Team to address and help prevent bias incidents on campus through education and transparent and consistent policies. The Bias Response Team (BRT) will: 

• proactively educate the campus on bias incidents through campus-wide educational workshops and in response to bias incidents in collaboration with the Office of Affirmative Action, the BSC Police Department, GLBTA Pride Center, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, Disability Resources and other stakeholders;

• offer support to victims of bias and hate-related incidents;
• civically engage students outside of the classroom to participate in educating the BSC community; and
• complement and be separate from the current judicial process.

This initiative has been approved by the President in Spring 2009, and expected launch date is Fall 2010. Our task is to identify potential members, provide training opportunities, and establish administrative support for the team.

3. Develop and enact recruitment procedures that target GLBTA students for admission to BSC.

This initiative is progressing well. BSC representatives made their first -- and hopefully annual -- appearance at the LGBT College Recruitment Fair in September, 2009. Our task is to work with Admissions and Institutional Research to better allow BSC to track admission, retention, and graduation rates of GLBT students.
 

Co-chairs for 2009-10
Matt Bell, Professor of English
Lisa Forest, Coordinator of the GLBTA Pride Center

How do I join?
If you would like to be a member of the Coalition, simply contact Lisa Forest at lisa.forest@bridgew.edu or Matt Bell at matt.bell@bridgew.edu

Current members:
Matt Bell, Co-Chair
Lisa Forest, Co-Chair

Amy MacMannis
Brian Salvaggio
Christina McCauley
Colleen Gallagher
David O'Malley
David Tillinghast
Debbie Drago
Dina Perrone
Donna Wood
Fernanda Ferreira
Janine Boutin
Jen Walsh
John Harper
Kathly Sandstrum
Kathy Bailey
Laurent Troland
Michael Kocet
Mike Somers
Rich Landry
Sabrina Gentlewarrior
Sarah Wiggins
Shelly Keniston
Theodore "Chris" Mattocks
William Lewis

 

Last Modified: October 1, 2009