This fostered a culture of mistrust and isolation among those who were gay on campus at this time. coming together to form some kind of collective action,” but this early pride movement was supplanted at the university by calculated persecution.Įxpelled students could be considered for re-admission after undergoing extensive psychotherapy, or in some cases religious conversion therapy.Įngaging in any sort of sexual or romantic activity caused fears that one would be exposed and expelled.Īccording to Albertario, this coincided with “the first time that you saw gay and lesbian groups. Any student considered exceptionally “homosexually oriented” – what the university called a “true” or “innate” homosexual – received harsher discipline and less likelihood to gain re-admittance than a “pseudo” homosexual, a circumstantial offender. Moving forward, Bennett and Albertario urge the university to take action in acknowledging its history. Upon the history project's release, the university condemned the purges.īennett stated that the university should make an effort to reach out to living victims and ask them what they want to be done, and that the administration should further its efforts to “make this university more welcoming and inclusive” to LGBTQ+ students. She also urged fellow students not to forget the power of their voices.
