ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 21, 1996 TAG: 9611210060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FAIRFAX
SOURCE: Associated Press
George Mason University's governing board rejected a $15,000 support center for gay students Wednesday, overriding the school's new president, who tried to forge a compromise on the proposal.
The state-funded university's board of visitors revisited the issue two months after new Republican members appointed by Gov. George Allen questioned whether the proposed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Resource Center would flout Virginia's anti-sodomy law.
The board voted 6-5 against hiring a part-time staffer to run the office. Instead, the board approved combining gay counseling with an existing office serving minority students. The board allocated no money for the new service.
``They are showing homophobia. It is that simple,'' said John Butler, one of a group of gay students and supporters at the meeting.
Supporters of the center say hate crimes are increasing on campus. They envisioned a room where gays would be safe from harassment and have access to magazines, books and other resource material with homosexual themes.
Opponents call the center divisive and a waste of money.
``It is an attempt to balkanize this university further into little groups, each wanting their own little place,'' said Michael Davis, a student who opposed the center. ``I don't want my money used for that.''
The board had voted 11-3 along party lines in September to stall money for the center at least until its November meeting, and board Rector Marvin Murray had asked for a legal opinion on sodomy.
``The university ought not to be spending resources supporting that sort of activity if it is illegal,'' Murray said then.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB