EPORTER
Vol. CXXIII Issue 7
Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.
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Jason Cruz
StaffWriter
Stetson's LGBT+ student
union, Kaleidoscope, celebrated
National Coming Out Day on the
Green Monday Oct. 12, inviting
students to share their personal
identities.
Officially, National Coming
Out Day was Sunday Oct. 11, but
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^n&!* ■
the Sunday of Stetson's Fall Break
did not seem like the best time to
draw crowds. Set up facing the
Welcome Center construction site,
Kaleidoscope event coordinator
Josh Roman sat at a table next a
large sheet hanging from two trees
proudly inviting students to join in
the occasion. On the other side of
the table stood a makeshift "closet" door, complete with purple fabric hanging around its edges.
Roman, who began planning
for this event last spring, welcomed students to step through the
closet and declare whatever it is
they were "coming out" as, which
included things not necessarily related to sexual or gender identity.
He told students to use the opportunity to proudly declare their social
interests or personality traits, even
things like being a nerd. On the table Roman had chalk for students
to take and express themselves in
writing on the Rock.
Upon inspection, the Rock
revealed a host of new messages ranging from the mundane
to the incredible. This reporter
saw declarations of nerdom and
one tea lover, but most writings
were words of encouragement
or self-expression. "Asexuality
is real! Ace and proud!" adorned
one rock while "Love is in the
Heart" dominated another.
* Perhaps the shortest piece of
chalk writing was also the most
delightful to see. Its author left
only two words: "I survived!"
Coming Out Day means much
more than chalk writing to student
Reagan Fejfar (pictured at right), a
transgender male in his first year at
Stetson. Fejfar publicly revealed
his gender identity on this occasion
last year and now proudly engages in the gay male community. On
Coming Out Day, Reagan donned
a t-shirt which read "Proud Trans
Queen" along with a faceful of
makeup and hot pants.
Fejfar explained that he loves
ee uoming
Out Day,
Page 4
Reporter photos/Nichols Frechette
Pride without prejudice — In the top photo, Kaleidoscope
event coordinator Josh Romans greet students as they come
to his table during Stetson's celebration of National Coming Out
Day on Oct. 12. In the photo above, first-year student Reagan
Fejfar poses in the doorway of the "closet" out on the Stetson
Green.
Armed <BMX bandit'
robs Galaxy Superette
Events postponed after possible threat to campus
Author and
W'Km^iS&m
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111
Lauren Davids
News Editor
Officer Michael Paez spoke with the store
owner Harivadan Jambusaria. According
to the police report, a man had entered the
At 7:20 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 14, the convenience store, waited around the cash
DeLand Police Department responded to a reSlster and ^structed the cashier to open
report of an armed robbery at the Galaxy Or-\/-> D **'*■» jiii§!
Superette, 247 N. Amelia Ave., a block 0©(3 DcHlQII,
from the southern side of the Stetson Uni- ,__ _
versify campus. PclQe 2
After arriving on scene, DeLand Police
I®ft Pm
visits Stet:
Story on
Page 4
II
Student
playlist:
Weekend in
Paris
A&E, Page 5
At your
fingertips: an
app opinion
Opinion, Page 9
ill
Stetson
Bass Fishing
Club's first
tournament
Sports, Page 12