Gay Liberation to Campus Assimilation by Patrick Dilley

Author:Patrick Dilley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030046453
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

In essence, Shapiro sent an implicit message that he was still deciding what and when to decide what manner in which to decide to express equal rights for non-heterosexuals on campus. For LaGROC, the message was clear; any response would need to transcend routes of official communication.

By the beginning of the fall 1983 term, LaGROC had planned a series of incrementally more disruptive actions on the Michigan campus. They began with attending one of the University’s most conventional traditions: the annual tea hosted by the president. According to news accounts, “a group of about 50 gays rights activists” worked the event, distributing stickers and buttons that stated “Oct. 14,” the deadline they were about to give the University to address their concerns listed in the December 1982 position paper.25

One of the spokespersons for LaGROC was Bruce Aaron, who used the informal event to deliver to Shapiro a letter from LaGROC, protesting the University’s delay in including sexual orientation in the non-discrimination statement. Aaron said that Shapiro “expressed concern for their cause” but was undecided on whether he should take the issue to the University Regents for a bylaw change or simply make a presidential policy statement himself.26 The group demanded a response to their continued requests by October 14, “or else,” which Aaron indicated had not yet been determined, but “[t]he longer Shapiro waits, the more likely disruptive tactics would become necessary.”27 According to press reporting of the event, “Shapiro refused to say what he plans to do, although he said he understood their position.”28

On March 10, 1984, over 50 people, described in the campus paper as “activists… pushing for a campus non-discrimination policy for gays,” occupied President Shapiro’s office. After a march that began on the Diag at 12:30, the group arrived at Shapiro’s office, where they were told he was out to lunch. They stayed in the outer office, chanting, “Two-four-six-eight, Tell Shapiro we can’t wait!”29 When Shapiro finally arrived, he smiled and allowed the students into his office. Photographs in the local press show Shapiro literally surrounded by members of LaGROC, expressing their frustration waiting 15 months for the policy change they had asked for from the president.

Shapiro did himself no favors in his responses to the students. “I think it’s unfortunate that it’s taken so long…. But I’m not ready to issue a policy statement now.” In response to the activists’ not unexpected disappointment, Shapiro said, “I’ve probably worked a good deal more than anybody in this room on this.”30 That, probably as much as his refusal to offer a policy statement (or even a timeframe for doing so), infuriated the protesters. Was it another example of an oppressor trying to claim to the oppressed that his actions were really benefiting them?

LaGROC responded by stepping up their public demonstrations. At 2:00 on Friday, March 9, a baker’s dozen of female members of QuAC gathered in the Diag and placed paper shopping bags upon their heads, upon which were written statements such as “Another U-M employee in

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