SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Hundreds of University of Notre Dame employees are urging the Roman Catholic school to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination clause.
The campus newspaper, the Observer, ran a full-page ad last week that was signed by 366 school employees urging Notre Dame “to make the protection, recognition, and equal treatment” of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people an official part of school policy.
The South Bend Tribune reported that Richard Williams, a sociology professor who organized the effort, said “This is not just Notre Dame alone. This is something that is happening in South Bend and nationwide.”
He said the statement was intentionally drafted to encourage change.
Last spring, Notre Dame administrators turned down a request to add sexual orientation to the university’s nondiscrimination clause. They are, however, considering whether to recognize a gay-straight campus alliance.
According to the Indiana Courier-Journal, Alex Coccia, a Notre Dame junior and co-president of the group that is seeking recognition, Alliance ND, said he was pleased to see the signed statement by so many faculty and staff.
“I think it’s a really important show of support,” he said.
Coccia said recognition for a gay-straight alliance and adding orientation to the nondiscrimination policy remain regular topics of discussion among students.
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