Alumnae share experiences as lesbians
By SARAH NESTOR
News Writer
Students and faculty gathered in Moreau Center Sunday evening for the panel discussion "Boundaries Past and Present: Sharing Experiences with Alumnae." The discussion allowed lesbian alumnae to share their experiences about being a lesbian college student with the Saint Mary's community.
"This [is] Saint Mary's chance to welcome and honor lesbian alumnae," professor Ann Clark said.
The panel, part of Saint Mary's Sisterhood Week, consisted of five alumnae: Claudia Traudt '73, Vivien Strasky '85, Kelly Harrison '98, Jennifer Warner '98 and Ann Dromino '01, and was moderated by professor Catherine Pittman.
The women discussed how their experiences at Saint Mary's varied through the decades, but noted that many of the same problems persist. They also said the administration does not recognize the needs of lesbian students.
"The fact that "The Courier" [a Saint Mary's alumnae magazine] is not here is annoying to me," Harrison said. "This is the second year that we have held the panel and they have been invited."
The panelists shared their thoughts on what their boundaries and obstacles were while attending Saint Mary's and how they reacted to them.
"I wasn't very out, but I didn't have to hide," Traudt said. "I was running from my hometown which was very suffocating but I cannot live a lie and hide what I am."
But Strasky did not share these feelings. While at Saint Mary's, she shared shared her sexuality with only two people.
In recent years Harrison, Warner and Dromino said they were open with their sexuality and that everyone on campus knew.
"It was a strange dynamic for me," Harrison said. "Jennifer and I were a couple, still are, but at one point we were the only out couple on campus. People related to me as `the lesbian' or as the other half of `the couple.'"
The panelists also discussed the image of Saint Mary's and the lack of acknowledgement by the administration of not only lesbian issues but also women's issues in general.
"Saint Mary's is like a dysfunctional family. It is an all-women's college that is afraid to say the word `feminist,'" Warner said. "What is Saint Mary's about if we don't know our own identity?"
The discussion then led to what current students at Saint Mary's can do to fight politically and intellectually for what they believe is right and wrong. Issues that students brought up are gay and lesbian curriculum, diversity on campus that includes lesbians and general sexuality.
"You need to look at what battles there are to be fought and then pick what your battle is going to be," Harrison said. "The battles are everyone's battles."
Contact Sarah Nestor at nest9877@saintmarys.edu
All News Stories for Monday, February 25, 2002
