BreeAnne Clowdus '97 and Mike Glatze '97 have been elected the new co-chairs of the Dartmouth Rainbow Alliance, the College's student organization for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and their supporters, replacing Herlena Harris '96 and Scott Reeder '96.
Clowdus, the only one of four nominees to accept the nomination, was informed that she won the election yesterday in an e-mail message. "All the other women dropped out because they felt I would be best" for the position, Clowdus said. "People felt I would be a positive role model for closeted people on campus."
Clowdus said she is delighted with her new role, and she hopes to further the causes to which she is devoted.
"My identity as a lesbian and desire to improve the atmosphere here at Dartmouth is the most important thing in the world to me right now," she said.
Glatze said he shares Clowdus's devotion to the DRA.
He said he has never been so excited about becoming involved in a cause, and he thinks there is much work to be done.
Glatze said his foremost goal for the DRA during the upcoming year is to establish "a community identity, so people who are out have a place to go, and so people who are in the closet know that there is some place to turn."
He said the DRA has lacked such an identity in the recent past.
"In the past DRA was an intimidating force because it has got the big 'gay' name associated with it," Glatze said. "This is frightening for people who are in the closet."
Clowdus said she looks to dissuade the fears of closeted students personally and through the DRA.
"I'm an example of someone who has come out and has made it and is relatively happy here," Clowdus said.
She said the DRA should give students an experience at least as positive as her own.
"It's not always fun to be gay at Dartmouth," she said.
"Closeted students don't have an outlet to explore and experiment with their sexuality," Clowdus said.
Among other things, Glatze plans to bring back weekly meetings of bisexual students.
Reeder said he does not want the DRA to pressure students to come out in the upcoming year, noting that this has been a recent problem.
"I just hope that everybody learns that you need to let people come out on their own ... that it's not alright to force people to come out when they are not ready," he said.
