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T
he University of Portland burst
into an uproar recently after the
managing editor of the campus
newspaper publicly accused a fledg­
ling pro-diversity group of forcing a
“homosexual agenda” on the student body.
In the Nov. 4 issue of The Beacon —described
as the “student voice of the university”—Jeffrey
Lee also decried an Oct. 20 candlelight vigil
that was held on the Catholic campus in
remembrance of Matthew Shepard, the gay
college student murdered last year in
Wyoming.
More than 100 people turned out for the
vigil, which was organized by Friends United
to Educate Lives, a group that promotes cam­
pus awareness of diversity, including gay and
lesbian issues.
Lee wrote, in part: “A 13-year old boy [in
Arkansas] was [recently] repeatedly raped and
eventually murdered by two homosexuals.
This story has been completely ignored by
mainstream media outside of Arkansas. Why
aren’t we holding candlelight vigils for him?
The answer is because homosexuals killed the
boy, and few have the courage to say anything
negative about homosexuals.”
Accompanying the text was a graphic of a
stop sign and the words: “Stop special rights
for homosexuals.”
“The homosexual agenda is powerful, and
saying anything against it creates a large hate-
filled backlash,” Lee added. “But their agenda
is full of lies..... It is our Christian responsibil­
ity to not sit passively by and allow our morals
to be eroded away or compromised.”
A few days after the column was published,
University of Portland student Kari Kruse told
Just Out: “Things have been pretty tense since
that came out.”
The Sept. 17 issue of Just Out reported on
the formation of FUEL, and spotlighted
Kruse— the groups co-founder and a 20-year-old
junior majoring in psychology and social work.
She spoke about the struggles she has
encountered as a lesbian at the independent
Catholic institution of 2,600 students.
The university, founded nearly 100 years ago,
is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy
Cross, the Catholic order of priests and brothers
affiliated with the University of Notre Dame.
“It’s hard to be different at this school,” Kruse
said.
Despite that, Kruse was intent on making
FUEL a group to reckon with.
And that’s exactly what she’s done. FUEL
has seen its membership list grow to more than
150 students, put on major panels and presenta­
tions, distributed Safe Zone signs and raised
more than $300 in donations.
FUEL U nder F ire ,
to the editor, a selected quote, a picture or a
poem. (A copy of Lee’s commentary was posted
in the center of the patchwork quilt.)
“This is amazing!” said Kruse, phoning in
from campus the day the display appeared. “So
many people have stopped by and written some­
thing. People are standing here hugging and
talking. It’s incredible!”
Students at Portland State University get riled up
By day’s end, the display was alive with com­
over newspaper column attacking pro-diversity group by Inga Sorensen
mentary affirming FUEL’s existence.
“1 am a white, hetero­
sexual, Protestant female.
Not exactly part of a ‘mar­
ginalized’ society,” offered
one student. “Yet, I have
benefited beyond mea­
sure— mentally, emotional­
ly, and most of all spiritual­
ly— from the activities and
ideologies FUEL has put
forth thus far. This organi­
zation is one of the greatest
manifestations of G od’s
love and the teachings of
Jesus that 1 have had the
privilege of encountering in
a very long time. The FUEL
I know stands for universal
love. With this in mind, I
extend my love to my friend
Jeff Lee, however much I
disagree.”
Another student provid­
ed a quote attributed to
Mother Teresa: “People are
often unreasonable, illogi­
cal and self-centered; for­
give them anyway.”
The Nov. 11 Beacon,
meanwhile, included a slew
Kari Kruse (inset) is a founding member of Friends United to Educate Lives, a pro-diversity group whose Oct. 20
of letters denouncing Lee’s
vigil honoring victims of hate crimes sparked a campus brouhaha
views, as well as a guest
More recently, FUEL orchestrated the vigil
The support demonstrated via the vigil was commentary from a FUEL member and an opin­
as a memorial to Shepard and others subjected also deeply felt. Says Kruse: “At the end [of the
ion piece from the paper’s editor, Maia Nolan,
to hate crimes. The gathering drew students, vigil], we congregated in front of the chapel to who wrote: “For three years, I’ve been trying to
faculty and members of the broader community. share our thoughts and feelings on hate and how figure out what it would take to awaken the stu­
“I think what Kari’s doing is fantastic,” says we can create a hate-free world. I never believed dent voice on this campus. Now I know. This
Becky Bilyeu, owner of Touchstone Coffee such a beautiful event could take place on a conversation and controversy surrounding Jeff’s
House in Northeast Portland.
campus where I once feared leaving my dorm views proves that this campus is not as apathet­
Kruse would pop in for coffee, and the two room.”
ic as I so often think it is.”
Then Lee’s column hit the campus.
started to chat.
Indeed. Thar charge of apathy could not be
Though more than a decade out of college
“It brought me to tears!” says Kruse.
applied to Kruse or the other members of FUEL.
A week later, FUEL, in conjunction with a
herself, Bilyeu liked Kruse’s energy and felt it
was important to show solidarity by attending school-sanctioned feminist group, pulled ■ To find out more about F riends U nited to
together a display— a “silent protest” of sorts—
the vigil.
E ducate L ives , contact Kari Kruse, who says
And Kruse, who is eager to share ideas with in response to Lee’s column.
she’d like to network with members of the broader
The display, situated in the school’s com­ sexual minorities community who support her
and get input from the queer community, says
mons area, featured a large collage. Anyone who efforts. Interested parties can reach Kruse via e-mail
those connections mean so much.
“I can’t even tell you how good it feels,” she wished to participate was given a square of col­ at kkruse@up.edu.
ored cloth on which she or he could pin a letter
says.
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