Graduate Open Alliance Meeting

GOA Meeting, Friday at 5:30, Stern Center 409

The Graduate Open Alliance will be having another organizational meeting this Friday, April 16^th at 5:30 PM in Stern Center Room 409. We realize that many of you were unable to attend the original meeting because of scheduling conflicts or due to the heavy traffic caused by setup for the Cooper River Bridge Run downtown. So, we’ve decided to hold another informational meeting to get your input on the formation of this important group.

For those of you who may not have heard, the Graduate Open Alliance is a new organization on campus designed for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Graduate Students, as well as Straight students who support them.

Because the GOA will be designed for graduate students, we plan to discuss issues particularly pertinent to the grad student population on campus. Topics will include equality in the workplace, GLBTQ healthcare and legal issues, balancing work, school, and relationships,  and fostering a supportive climate for GLBTQ Grad Students and their allies on campus. Of course, we will also seek to create social events that cater to the professional and personal needs of grad students. To put it simply, we will endeavor to foster an open environment on campus that fully reflects the wonderfully diverse spectrum of our graduate student population.

Since our focus will be on equality, attending Open Alliance meetings will be helpful not only if you’re GLBTQ or a straight ally, it will also be helpful to you if you’re interested in learning about issues of diversity and inclusion in general. After all, you don’t have to be of any particular sexual orientation or gender identity to be dedicated to the equal treatment of every individual.

So, I Invite you all to come and be a part of the founding of this new and exciting group. At this meeting, we will be forming a group agenda together and discussing our participation in future events on campus and in the community. After our meeting, we will go out to a local restaurant for some much needed end-of-the-semester social time. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to be a part of the group but can’t make the meeting, contact me at johnsonap@cofc.edu.

I hope to see you there!