The Alumni Hall Board of Managers approved the first step for three groups seeking affinity interest group status within Alumni Hall Saturday. The three groups are the Serpentine Society for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender alumni, the Asian-Pacific American Alumni Network and the Bolivar Network, for Hispanic and Latino alumni.
"The reason we created the concept [of affinity interest groups] was to allow alumni who are not geographically based to have a relationship with the Alumni Association and to pull all of our alumni closer together," said Wayne D. Cozart, Associate Director for Alumni Affairs.
"After the groups create a constitution, bylaws and have 50 signatures from members of the Alumni Association, the Board of Managers in their spring meeting will review them for final approval," Cozart said.
About 20 alumni and students worked out preliminary details of the Serpentine Society Saturday.
The alumni voted to name the group "The Serpentine Society" -- but, the name may conflict with an already-existing group within Alumni Hall. If it poses a problem the group voted on adopting "The Serpentine Network" as their name.
"Serpentine is an appropriate name because at the University, even the walls are not straight," joked Kate Ranson-Walsh, a second-year College student and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Union secretary.
Serpentine co-founders Matt Paco, a 1995 College graduate, and 1993 College
graduate Brian Eley, already have started local chapters in New York City
and Washington D.C., respectively.
The goal is to foster a greater sense of lgbt community, which is why one goal is to start a local Charlottesville chapter, Paco said.
"We want to be an organization that represents a group that has never been represented by Alumni Hall before," he said. "We can become a large social organization and can promote education about being gay, lesbian or bisexual."
Asst. Dean of Students Glenna C. Chang, who was present at the meeting, will serve as an unofficial liaison from the Office of the Dean of Students to the Serpentine Society, he added.
John Hutton, a 1969 College graduate, said he was looking forward to the increased contact the group will bring between the University's lgbt alumni.
"We are interested in being in touch with lgbt issues within the alumni community," said Hutton, a New York City attorney. "It's another point of contact after students graduate -- they do want to stay in touch and would like the larger support of alumni."
Judy Pointer, executive director of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship at Alumni Hall, said she welcomes the group to the University.
"I think it's a positive step for the University in terms of being open to many diverse groups," Pointer said.
Read More
Podcast revolutionizes storytelling for Charlottesville and its sister city
By Brandon Kile | 8 hours agoCharlottesville has four sister cities total, the other three being Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Poggio a Caiano, Italy and Winneba, Ghana.
Student Council debates resolution for increased allergen transparency, reviews summer budget
By Arshiya Pant | YesterdayThe resolution aimed to support students by requiring U.Va. Dine locations to provide a comprehensive list of allergens for food items on GrubHub.
Honor Committee brainstorms sanction diversification, considers future steps for AI
By Lexie Stadler | 2 days agoHancock and Carson Breus, vice chair for sanctions and third-year Commerce student, said they are collaborating to explore fresh sanctioning avenues.
