PRISM shedding light on new subject of acceptance

By: Kyle Christiansen
News Editor

The on-campus awareness organization titled People Respecting Individual Sexuality at Monmouth (more commonly known as PRISM) appears to have grown quite a bit over the past year. Despite being a group which, as some may argue, was hardly well acknowledged and recognized by the student body in previous years, PRISM has now arisen and flourished (both socially and financially) in its attempt to spread understanding and open-mindedness for Monmouth College’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) population.

Kim Brassfield, a senior and president of PRISM, stated, “It’s been an uphill battle trying to turn ourselves around.”

After Brassfield took over the top position in spring of 2007, the group was able to pull itself out of a debt of over $100, and even accumulated approximately $120  in additional funds.

Already this semester, PRISM has begun making arrangements for serving the campus community with the inclusion of the new Diversity Room in the International House (located at 727 E. Broadway). PRISM will be monitoring the room from 6 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Individuals may visit the room during these times, either as a “safe space” where they can feel comfortable discussing issues of sexuality, or they may peruse various print information resources made available for reading in the room.

PRISM is continuing its history of sponsoring programs which promote acceptance of GLBT students, such as: the annual Coming Out Day, World AIDS Day observance, the Day of Silence and corresponding Night of Noise.

To coincide with Coming Out Day, speaker Robyn Nochs will visit Monmouth College on Friday, Oct. 5 to discuss creating a secure and inclusive environment for GLBT students in a collegiate setting.

Branching out from the Monmouth area, members of PRISM (as well as any persons interested in participating) will travel to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to attend the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender Ally College Conference from Feb. 22-24, 2008.

When asked to attribute the success and development of PRISM in such a short span of time, Brassfield and Teresa Schryver, a junior and PRISM’s head of public relations, both came across many strong, supporting factors.

Brassfield believes the involvement of Janeve West, assistant professor  of  communication and theater arts, as the group’s faculty advisor has brought a bounty of positive energy and encouragement. “Janeve West has been absolutely amazing as our advisor. She’s our cheerleader!” Brassfield commented.

Schryver feels the diversity of PRISM’s executive board itself has set a constructive example of the assortment of sexual lifestyles present at Monmouth College, with every category of GLBT, aside from transgender, represented by one or more of PRISM’s officers. “We split kind of evenly as far as sexuality on the board,” Schryver remarked.

Both Brassfield and Schryver agree, though, that a change in PRISM’s overarching philosophy and personal objectives has brought about one of the most affirmative transformations in regards to the group’s acclimation with the rest of the campus. “We’re trying to move away from that whole ‘we’re here, we’re queer’ attitude. We want people to tolerate us, but we also want to tolerate other people,” stated Brassfield.

Those who wish to be included in PRISM’s e-mailing list should contact Brassfield at kbrassfield@monm.edu. In addition, PRISM will have its own booth set-up at the Cultural Festival on Saturday, Sept. 22, on Dunlap Terrace from  noon to 4 p.m., for students to learn more about PRISM and its goals and plans for the future.