OPINION: Patience needed in finding new director
Last Friday, I attended the meeting between members of the local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Asexual Alliance, and three leaders of the Access and Diversity Center — Eric Olsen, Linda Zimmerman and Michelle Bogdan.
This meeting was called to discuss the appointment of a new LGBTQA director since Maure Smith-Benanti, the previous director, left in July.
Members of the LGBTQA community are frustrated and disappointed that a new director hasn’t been hired yet; during the meeting, some students fought through tears to express concern over the safety of the campus, and some are simply missing the availability of a constant friend.
Others are worn out from bearing the burden of supporting the Cache Valley’s entire gay community through unpaid volunteer work.
Access and Diversity Center leaders maintain that they are working in line with university policy to find a new director as soon as possible.
Eric Olsen, the associate vice president for Student Services, said the average hiring time is between five and six months, so they’re still on schedule — but students claim there is more than typical urgency in this matter.
A quote by Smith-Benanti was read during the meeting, stating it would be no exaggeration to say she saved the lives of more than 50 students throughout the course of her employment at USU.
This includes suicidal phone calls as well as visits from students and community members. She was always available to give comfort and support to anyone who needed her help, including relationship advice, help with family struggles and a general listening ear.
While I agree it is imperative to have this position filled as soon as possible, it is unrealistic for the LGBTQA community to expect that whomever fills Smith-Benanti’s position will perfectly emulate her.
I interned for Smith-Benanti in the fall of 2010, and her predecessor certainly has big shoes to fill. The position of LGBTQA coordinator was originally created for her services, and she spent years originating and organizing all the programs and services for LGBTQA students and the community.
In a conservative area like Cache Valley, it is especially important the person hired is truly able to understand the local environment, establish trust and take the time to learn the ropes of Smith-Benanti’s USU position.
With that being said, the leaders of the Access and Diversity Center need to take the quickest, most effective actions possible to appoint a new LGBTQA director.
At the beginning of the meeting, Olsen disappointed and angered most, if not all, of the meeting’s attendees by issuing a disclaimer stating the Access and Diversity Center didn’t have to fill Smith-Benanti’s position and they were not obligated to serve members of minority communities.
Regardless of Olsen’s intentions, his words left the listeners feeling like they were asking a burdensome favor, rather than a service, by seeking to have the LGBTQA director position maintained.
However, those representing the Access and Diversity Center felt they were not the only ones falling short — they claimed the students on the Student Hiring Committee were not fulfilling their responsibilities either, therefore slowing the hiring process.
There was some unfortunate tit for tat on both sides, before a brave student stood up and asked for all personal issues be put aside in order to focus on the real problem.
At the end of the meeting not much of a resolution was met — although both sides agreed filling the position was important and that clear communication was essential in moving forward, a specific deadline was not set for the hiring of a new director.
Representatives of the LGBTQA community, for the most part, left feeling their goals were not accomplished.
Clearly, the crux of the situation has come to a head. While it is essential the Access and Diversity center fills this position in an urgent manner, the student body concerned with this issue must be patient and willing to wait for the opportunity to find the best substitute for Smith-Benanti.
Students on the hiring committee must be willing to make sacrifices to ensure they have enough time to consider job applicants. The students and the staff need to place more trust in each other and communicate more often to ensure a similar meeting isn’t needed in the future.
When serious effort is invested by both sides, I have no doubt that a selected individual will rise to the occasion and serve the community as well as Smith-Benanti did.
— Liz Emery is a senior majoring in English creative writing. Her column appears every Wednesday. Comments can be sent to her at liz.emery@yahoo.com.