Silenced in the face of discrimination
Students took a vow of silence protesting the discrimination
of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals
Brittany Smith / News Editor
Wednesday, over 130 students and faculty on campus took a
vow of silence against discrimination and abuse facing the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Dressed in black shirts with silenced written across the
front in white lettering, students participated in a National
Day of Silence. Thirty faculty wore pins to support the cause
since they could not be silent to teach classes.
Over 1,900 middle schools, high schools, colleges and
universities nation wide silenced themselves in nonviolent
protest of the discrimination facing lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender individuals.
Students also carried speaking cards that explained why they
were not talking so people talking to them would understand
why their conversation was one-sided.
“Day of Silence is a way for students to express how
they feel about discrimination and the community,”
freshman Hillary Jones said.
Octagon hosted the silent students for a silent lunch from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students also gathered around
Fonville Fountain at 2:30 p.m. to make a silent statement.
Students assembled outside of Moseley at 5 p.m. to break the
silence. First they screamed and were excited about talking
again, but then they reflected upon the day’s events
and the impact it made upon them and the people that saw
them.
“Silence has many effects,” Alexis Smith said.
“Those participating realize how hard it is to stay
silent and those interacting with the participants realize
how much they are missing when their peers are forced into
silence. The issue is forced out into the open where people
have to deal with it.”
Laurie Montanus stressed the fact that the fight does not
end with today. “I picked up my cap and gown today and
realized that the fight does not end today or tomorrow. It
does not end when we leave this university. We must keep
fighting and challenging it for things to get better,”
she said.
The first official Day of Silence was started in 1996 by a
student at the University of Virginia. Forty people
participated in the first day, but it has significantly grown
over the past nine years. Elon joined the National Day of
Silence in 2003.
“This is really important,” said Adam Smith,
co-chair of Spectrum. “With all the negative talk and
legislation recently, hate is not a value we should support.
You don’t have to be gay to support the cause. Many
people participated to show their support for their friends
and family.”
Contact Brittany Smith at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
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