Williams Students React to Antigay Act

An incident of antigay vandalism has led to stepped-up LGBT activism at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. -- and college administrators appear to be responsive.

In late November a common area in a freshman dormitory was vandalized, with paint spilled in the kitchen, condiments smeared across the floor, penises drawn on neighboring entries, and the word fags painted on a wall.

In the wake of the incident, the campus has held open forums, and the Queer Student Union and the Women's Center have joined forces and set up a headquarters from which students have presented a list of demands to college administrators. The students want Williams to establish a Gender and Sexuality Resource Center; enhance training for student advisers on LGBT and women's issues; make gender-neutral housing available; offer queer and sexuality studies courses and/or hire a professor with expertise in the subject in the women's studies department; and hire a full-time queer life coordinator.

"There has been an overwhelming history of blatant vandalism as well as an underlying current of homophobia, sexism, racism, and classism on the Williams College campus," student leaders Michael Semensi and Tracey Vitchers said in an e-mail to The Advocate. "The students hope that their actions will pressure the Williams administration to face these serious issues and provide students with the support necessary to eradicate instances of vandalism, homophobia, sexism, racism, and classism at one of the nation's top liberal arts institutions."

Semensi, Vitchers, and others met last week with top Williams officials, including interim president William Wagner, who expressed support for the students and requested another meeting this week. The student activists are working on a more comprehensive list of demands.