PRISM Speaks Up with Silence
April 16, 2010 by: Paige Turner
PRISM, the student organization that represents gay students, is participating in the annual national Day of Silence today with a gathering on the courtyard.
The observance is one of thousands at universities across the nation today. Hundreds of thousands of students vow to remain silent for the day to raise awareness of the bullying, name-calling and harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students.
PRISM, which stands for Pride, Raising awareness, Involvement, Support and Mentoring, focuses on serving the LGBTQQA (lebsian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, allied) community on campus including students, faculty, staff and alumni. The organization was formed in 1997 to promote awareness, equality and understanding between gay students and the rest of the student body.
The president of PRISM, Dylan Lueck, said he expects great things from the Day of Silence.
“There have been many hate crimes and bullying incidents that happen to people of the LGBTQQA community and we want to act instead of react,” Lueck said. “In being silent, we will hopefully create a serious statement that people will pay attention to.”
Everyone is welcome to participate in the event and PRISM membership is open to everyone. Meetings are held Tuesdays and Thursdays during X-period in Main Hall, Room 14.
The Day of Silence is such a great concept! I support you all, although I am not a member of PRISM, I do support the rights of all people. More power to you and I am behind you 100 percent. God Bless