YSU denounces defacing of message on Rock

Print Story

Email to Friend

Discuss this story

The messages made people feel afraid, a group spokeswoman said.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown State University spokesman said the university finds it "offensive" that someone would feel compelled to deface a message painted on The Rock outside Kilcawley Center.

The Rock is a campus message board, often painted several times a week by students or student groups announcing upcoming events and activities.

It's been used in that fashion for nearly 40 years, said YSU spokesman Ron Cole, adding that there have been very few problems with the practice over that time.

YSUnity, the student Gay Straight Alliance that has been active on campus since the early 1990s, painted its own messages on The Rock in conjunction with National Coming Out Day today.

The group, which has between 35 and 40 active members, set up tables in Kilcawley Center to distribute information throughout the day.

The goal is to raise awareness, get the group's name out and make itself available to those who need someone to talk to, said Caitlyn Borowicz, one of two YSUnity vice presidents.

What happened

The group painted its logo, some rainbows and other messages on The Rock on Saturday in anticipation of National Coming Out Day, but a campus sorority painted over it to announce its own upcoming event.

Borowicz said her group had no problem with the sorority's action and painted The Rock again Monday evening but discovered this morning that someone had painted anti-gay comments over their messages Tuesday night.

"Stay in the closet" was one of those comments, she said.

"We're all pretty offended, pretty hurt by the hostility we got," Borowicz said, adding that it makes people afraid.

The group's purpose is to foster a safe campus environment for gay and lesbian students, said Christy Campf, YSUnity president. That safety doesn't exist now, she said.

YSUnity is trying to make the university a bigger, more diversified place, she said, adding that the defacing of its messages only makes the members more determined to get their message across, she said.

Cole said the university certainly doesn't condone the action of the person or people who defaced the messages.

It is "pretty sad" that someone would take this positive tradition involving The Rock and do something like this, he said.

gwin@vindy.com

Wednesday, October 11, 2006