Hundreds of students walked out of classes and attended a mass rally sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Alliance and other progressive student groups at Northeastern Illinois University March 11.
At the rally, students, staff and faculty condemned homophobia at NEIU, critiquing, in particular, the 'intransigence of the university administration in taking any concrete action on eight student demands issued in December,' organizers said.
Students—queer and straight—spoke out against homophobia, racism, sexism, poverty, globalization, the war in Iraq, anti-immigrant discrimination, and President Bush. After the rally, these students, still carrying signs, met the president of the university as she exited another university event. According to organizers, she stated there is 'no we and they' in this situation, a comment that elicited derisive responses from the students. The president then rushed off. The event follows seven months of meetings, outreach, speak-outs, and meetings with administrators.