Quinnipiac students demand gender and sexuality inclusivity
October 19, 2020
The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) called for a more LGBTQ-friendly environment at Quinnipiac University after a first-year student has decided to leave the university after facing several homophobic incidents.
The student’s mother, Lauren Swick Jordan, posted on the Quinnipiac Parents Facebook page on Oct. 18, about the hateful acts. In it, she said other students were leaving trash and flour, which she later corrected and said was baby powder, outside her son’s door. They also banged on her son’s door “at all hours.”
“Freshman year is hard enough without having to endure so much hatred, simply for who he is,” Jordan wrote on Facebook. “Do better.”
Attached to the GSA statement was a petition people can fill out showing their support. As of publishing, it has received over 800 signatures.
“Unfortunately, attacks like this are far too common at Quinnipiac and are often met with inadequate action,” the GSA stated. “We would like the university to address the homophobic environment that LGBTQ students are subjected to.”
The statement included several changes the GSA wants the university to make including formally recognizing this incident, gender-inclusive and LGBTQ housing, bias training for administration and staff on campus and improving resources such as organizations and events for the LGBTQ community on campus.
Athena Cuttle, senior psychology major and president of the GSA, said the incidents the student faced were horrible.
“No one should have to go through that, especially — freshman year is so hard,” Cuttle said. “Their freshman year is a little different, obviously, with (COVID-19), so that’s also not easy. Then, on top of that, just having to go through this ridiculous situation where people just can’t act like adults and accept people for who they are, it broke my heart.”
Cuttle also said the GSA is hoping the school will reach out and have a discussion about the changes listed in the statement.
“In the past, we tried to make these steps, and clearly we haven’t had much progress with that,” Cuttle said. “We’re hoping the school realizes that it needs to happen and that the world is changing, and they need to start changing with it.”
The gender-inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly housing is the most important change, as Cuttle said many of her friends told her stories of roommates who weren’t accepting of the LGBTQ community.
“You want your dorm to feel like home,” Cuttle said. “You want to feel comfortable here and if you can’t be yourself, it’s not going to be a good experience.”
Signing the document is key to making a difference, according to Cuttle. She also said raising awareness and being there for people in the LGBTQ community is what will help the most.
“Another important aspect of this whole story is bystanders,” Cuttle said. “There are definitely people who heard about this, knew what was going on and weren’t stepping up and helping, which is super sad to me.”
Cuttle said she’s happy about the response the statement and form have received.
“This has definitely given us the leverage we needed to start to get our points taken more seriously,” Cuttle said. “The fact that we’re getting this many signatures is mind-boggling, it’s so exciting.”
Rebecca Holske • Oct 20, 2020 at 6:45 am
Disgraceful shame on any place of academia that encouraged it by not immediately investigating with expulsions the perpetrators.
In the case of a semester of a Federal Student Loan if one was incurred I would demand payment by said institution.
Judy Tiplady • Oct 19, 2020 at 6:32 pm
Time to step up to the reality that we are not all the same, but the reality is as is the law that we should all be treated the same. If you hear something say something. If you are trembling speak with that tremble but SPEAK UP!
Amy Morrill • Oct 19, 2020 at 6:19 pm
I simply cannot believe what I am reading. These are adult, essentially, so treat them as such. These are hate crimes and should be treated and punished accordingly.
Jeanne Rees • Oct 19, 2020 at 4:30 pm
As an educator and a human being I am appalled that this behavior was tolerated at all. Can’t imagine suggesting to a student that they consider QU given what this says about the ethos of the student body and more importantly about the administrators. My guess is that if there was any racist behavior of this type the school would have leapt into action, found the perpetrators and dismissed them (as would be appropriate) I am at a loss to understand why this has happened in this situation.
Dana Trumpower • Oct 19, 2020 at 3:54 pm
This is disappointing to hear in 2020. This is bullying. The dorm (at minimum) should have a meeting to discuss how wrong this behavior is and how they can come together to support one another. You don’t have to agree with everyone and everything to be a decent respectful person.
Jamien Lundy Forrest • Oct 19, 2020 at 3:32 pm
I am appalled that Peter was treated this way. I had the pleasure of working with him when he was in high school (I was the lighting designer on their productions) and Peter is an incredibly talented, caring, and confident individual. The fact that he was harassed like that by his peers is disgusting and I hope those students who were responsible for this vile behavior get expelled. No one deserves to be treated that way.
It’s too bad QU couldn’t be a more welcoming place… you really missed out on a wonderful student and a brilliant human being. Time to do better.
Lena Berwitz • Oct 19, 2020 at 1:58 pm
In today’s society this is unacceptable! We are all one human race and should be accepting of others as they are.
David Foose • Oct 19, 2020 at 1:57 pm
I support Peter and all other students in his situation. It’s important for people to feel comfortable in their own skin and with their own being. Peter is an outstanding person who stands up for others and cares deeply for his friends and family.
Do better, QU.
Carl Bloom • Oct 19, 2020 at 1:51 pm
This is disgraceful and so disappointing. As a gay man in his fifties, I like to think we’ve matured past this type of ignorant, ugly, and hurtful behavior. Ms. Swick-Jordan is right; we MUST do better. It’s far past time and no one should have to ensure such hostility for who they are.
Meredith Payson • Oct 19, 2020 at 1:26 pm
The fact that this school allowed for such an amazing person to feel so exiled it’s appalling, Quinnapiac you need to do better.
Sandra Fish • Oct 19, 2020 at 1:18 pm
My god this is happening in 2020? My heart breaks for all of us. I love people so much and most of all for being themselves. There is no space in our lives for unkindness; we are truly connected and we harm one we harm all of us. PLEASE educate your communities in human behavior.
Anna • Oct 19, 2020 at 12:48 pm
The ignorant hateful behavior this young man had to put up with is beyond reproach. Quinnipiac and the students involved should be held responsible and should face consequences. I would suggest QU step and make REAL changes. I for one will be removing QU as option for my junior in HS as college option!
Ann Wadsworth • Oct 19, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Shame on you, Quinnipiac! You’re way overdue for teaching your students inclusion and kindness.
Melissa Lamarche • Oct 19, 2020 at 12:09 pm
I know the Jordan family, and they are wonderful people. Shame on this University for not protecting Peter and its students. AWFUL and they should be held accountable.
Camille Williams • Oct 19, 2020 at 11:59 am
This is heartbreaking and infuriating. School administration needs to get their act together immediately. How awful for an institution of “higher” education to be complicit in giving young adults life-altering, traumatic experiences as their introduction to adulthood.
College is a few years away for my kids, but regardless of their sexual orientation, QU is now ruled out as a consideration for our family unless there are RADICAL changes
Carmen Wheel • Oct 19, 2020 at 11:49 am
This should not be tolerated on any level but especially at higher education facilities who supposedly have the best and brightest. I’m disappointed that this is still an ongoing issue and hope it is properly addressed but the administration swiftly.