The Stetson Reporter

I <■■> wed feb-03 http://repcrter.stetson.edu SPORTS: Baseball wins season opener page 5b WHAT'S lUKIDc News 2A Opinions 4A Life IB Classifieds 2A Sports 5B Etcetera 6a issue 15 volume 115 Florida's First Private ColledeNewspaper 1 OPINIONS: Reuse printer paper from the labs to the library page 4a Spring funding allocations by SGA, SAFAC By Julie Farricker associate news editor Last Saturday, Feb. 1, SAFAC, the Student Activity Fee Allocations* Committee, distributed the spring semester funds to the various organizations on campus. SAFAC is a body composed of Student Government Association (SGA) president, Jon Martin, Vice President James Chambers, Executive Secretary Kasia Walosik; the five committee chairs, Director of Student Life Darald Stubbs, four students to represent each class level, and the faculty chair of the university's Campus Life Committee. SAFAC governs the distribution of a portion of the activities fees paid by the undergraduate students here at the university. "We had a pretty good distribution on the committee. We had minorities, women, Democrats, and Republicans."," said Maya Yankelevich, the Academic Affairs chairperson. "The committee worked well together. All disagreements were discussed, and then a decision was made fairly based on the opinion of the majority." According to the application packet, SGA, in conjunction with the campus life administration, has set up a process that allows students the opportunity to directly evaluate and fund activities they feel are important to the university community. During the day, the president and treasurer of each organization that was applying for funding came at an assigned time to present the -organization's application and have any questions about the process answered. SAFAC reviews applications for funding twice a" year, once during the fall and then again in the spring. In order to be considered for SAFAC funding, according to the SAFAC application handbook, a campus organization must be recognized by and be in good standing with, the Office of Student Life. The senate passed an additional qualification last semester. All organiza- . tions must have an active senator in SGA in order to receive funding. Organziation senators are required to attend meetings and serve on committees to be considered in good standing. If a senator becomes delinquent, his/ her constituent organization may lose its SAFAC monies. Individuals are not eligable for SAFAC funding, but they are encouraged by the committee"to collaborate with a recognized student organization that may apply for and receive SAFAC funding. New organizations can also'apply for SAFAC funding as long as they are qualified, and since they do depend on SAFAC for funding, are given consideration. SAFAC primarily funds campus events open to all students. The particular amount of funding each organization receives is determined by the SAFAC committee, but preference is given to those organizations that display the most initiative in coordinating an event. see SAFAC, page 2a ^Reporter Contact Us 421 N. Woodland Blvd. #8409 DeLand, FL 32723 386.822.7224 FAX 386.822.7233 [email protected] [email protected] opinions® stetson.edu [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] RELIGIOUS series Homosexuality, Christianity blend Rev. Mel White testifies about his life in the church By Bryan Funk associate news editor A major debate in American society, the issue of homosexuality and religion, found a .new forum this past week at the university The Reverend Dr. Mel "White came to speak on issues relating to homosexuality and the church. White was raised in an evangelical Christian environment and began to experience his developing homosexuality at a young age. His environment and upbringing forced him to keep his homosexuality a secret and created guilt in him over his orientation. White married and had two children, living for years under the burden of the contrast between his life and what he felt. He received hours of Christian and other forms of counseling in an attempt to cure him of his homosexuality. Finally, White decided to embrace his orientation^ having, an amicable divorce from his wife. In 1993, White was installed Dean of the Cathedral of Hope Metropolitan Community Church in Dallas, Texas. With 14,000 congregants, it was the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered congregation. After almost three decades of counseling and therapy: including prayer, fasting, exorcism, and electric shock, all aimed at returning him to hetero- sexuality, White was able to reconcile his Christian theology and his sexual orientation. At his installation, Mel proclaimed his own statement of faith—"I am gay. I am proud. And God loves me without reservation." White began the campaign that currently occupies his.time, gaining recognition for the important role that homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered individuals have within the church. He also seeks to dispel the myth that Christian scripture labels alternate sexual orientations as sinful, leaving those who practice such lifestyles out of the graces of God. Rising publicity preceded the publication of White's book, "Stranger at LIFE: Dr. White expresses his beliefs that one can be homosexual and Christian over three-part series, photo by bryan funk "The fact that people participated and asked questions-and have been talking about and thinking about issues relating to sexuality and religion..." the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America" in 1994. The book told of White's struggle with both his own orientation and the church's stance toward it. White's visit to -""""• """* '— the campus was highlighted by three main events. The first was a book feast in discussing White's autobiography. Religious studies students, Winter Pastor School participants, and those interested in the topic, gathered to discuss the merits of White's work along with those of the issues it raises. The second event was a worship service held in Night Lites. Speaking to a crowd consisting of numerous denominations, White gave a lecture on the topic "How can I be sure that God loves me too?" The final event was a lecture in the Stetson room. White's topic was on being both homosexual and Christian. After an introduction by university Chaplain Dr. Laura Walters Baskett, White used letters from readers of his book, describing their suffering and anguish over what they perceived as their alienation from God, as examples of the price that the anti-homosexual stance of the church exacts. The theme of the lecture was that of outcasts. White drew parallels between the modern day outcast status of alternate sexualities in the church and the historical status of "outcast" worn by Jesus. Speaking of the strain that led to his own suicide attempt, "You can only take it so long—that stress of being someone you're not," said White. White accounted numerous examples of the pain caused by intolerance of alternate sexual orientation. "This is not an academic issue anymore...this issue is killing people," said White. At the conclusion of White's three-part visit to the university, many people within the community had a chance to hear him speak and pose questions. "The fact that people participated and asked questions and have been talking about and thinking about issues relating to sexuality and religion, I think, is the most exciting thing," said Baskett. Bryan Funk can be contacted at [email protected]. Students take over Community Service Office By Amy Rigdon NEWS EDITOR In the aftermath of the restructuring of the Values Council, Courtney Brown, the former director of the Community Service Office, resigned from her position, which had been reduced to halftime, which left three students to head the Community Service Office. These three students, who are senior biomedical sciences major Courtney Nail, junior marketing major Allison Foster, and first-year political science major Matt Morton, stepped up and took charge of the Community Service Office and all of its programs. "I was worried a little that the three of us wouldn't have the time commitment that Courtney [Brown] did. She was here all day and able to stay in contact with the community at all times," said Nail. "The transition has been going really smoothly. Matt, Allison, and I have been able to divide up the roles and communicate with each other well." The Community Service Office acts as an umbrella organization for all other community service organizations and individual people to come together, under which confers the office numerous responsibilities and an important role for campus-wide philanthropy. . "The Community Service Office is a liaison between agencies in the DeLand and Volusia County community and campus. Agencies contact us to inform us of help they need, and we find volunteers for them," said Foster. "We keep in contact with the agencies in the area. We are here in any way to support community service and that value because it is really importanrto give back to DeLand." With all of those responsibilities, the three divided-up the tasks and took on mini-roles. Nail said she is still chair of Into the Streets, which involves planning volunteer days, finding volunteers, and providing resources for students who want to volunteer but do not know where. Foster said she does work study for the. Community Service Office and collects all the information regarding completed community service on campus or through campus organizations and logs hours, which President Lee uses to attain grants. Foster also handles publicity for Into the Streets and the Community Service Office's monthly newsletter. Morton said he is the current chair of the community service council until a faculty member can replace him, and he also coordinates between the agencies in the community, maintaining contact as a liaison for them and the university. "We want [the university's community] to know that we are up and kicking and that the Community Service Office is still here. We are here to keep everyone together," said Morton. "Our job is to help organizations and people-volunteer by getting them the resources they need. The best thing [the community] can do is stay in contact with us. We will make a bigger influence as a united campus.',' Morton, Foster, and Nail were all see COMMUNITY, page 3a http :>/^p6-ter\stets ph.edu - m qqpppriWiMWWB mmmmm^mmm mmm frgilbWEMMl m Italia f