Tag: PRIDE

PRIDE hosts 14th annual PRIDE prom

By Nicole Popovich, Transcript Correspondent

Ohio Wesleyan University’s Pride Week ends with the 14th annual PRIDE prom.

PRIDE prom is on Nov. 10, in Benes rooms B and C from 8:30-11:30 p.m. The event is free for everyone on campus, not just the members of PRIDE.

Free snacks and drinks will be provided for those in attendance. 

“I can’t wait to go to PRIDE prom to see what it is about and meet some of the members who are a part of the club,” said sophomore Kami Stoflinsky. “I have heard a lot about it.”

PRIDE prom is organized by the People Regarding Individual Diversity Everywhere (PRIDE) executive board each year, but the board is adding something different.

“This year we have invited our general members to help out with things like setting up, decorating and suggesting songs,” said sophomore Capri Pappas.

PRIDE’s executive board consists of Pappas, president of PRIDE; sophomore Jasen Klingaman, vice president; sophomore Kait Aromy, PR chair; and sophomore Madison Vasel, treasurer.

“We currently have about 100 students on our mailing list, and each week, PRIDE sees anywhere between 25 and 30 recurring members,” Klingaman said.

PRIDE prom has been hosted on campus every year since the club started in 2004, according to Aromy.

“PRIDE prom isn’t the kind of prom that would have a theme like ‘under the sea’ or anything like that,” Aromy said. “It’s just about being true to yourself and having a good time.”

According to the description on PRIDE’s website, “PRIDE is an organization dedicated to the fair treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual persons.”

PRIDE club is open to all students regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and gender.

PRIDE celebrates Transgender Day of Remembrance

By Gabe Linderman, Transcript Reporter

In recognition of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a small group of Ohio Wesleyan students gathered in the Benes Room in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center to memorialize transgender people who were killed out of hatred or prejudice in the last year.

The event was held Dec. 4. Students, many of whom identify as transgender, read aloud names of the 262 transgender people killed globally in the last year.

“In 1999, a transwoman created the event to recognize the disproportionate amount of murders of transgender people and the event has since been held annually on Nov. 20, but obviously we couldn’t do that, so we’re having it after Thanksgiving break,” said sophomore Emily Shpiece, one of the organizers of the event.

After the names were read aloud to a silent crowd, students mourned together and discussed the uncertainty that clouds the future.

“A lot of the time, I think that transgender voices are not brought to light,” Shpiece said. “I feel like transgender people are generally overlooked on campus. People are ambivalent to ask questions and have a conversation about [transgender issues].”

The event, sponsored by PRIDE, concluded with a sullen tone.