Robin Roemer/The Ithacan SOPHOMORE SAMANTHA MCDUFFEE, a student volunteer, organizes materials in the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Education, Outreach and Services. Recently, students have pushed to make the center’s coordinator a full-time staff member.

Students, faculty and staff are lobbying the college administration to make the coordinator of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender outreach, education and services a full-time position.

One year after Lisa Maurer first filled the 20-hour-per-week position, students submitted a proposal to the board of trustees in October asking for her promotion. The resolution stated, “The mere retention of one disillusioned LGBT student for another year at IC would cover the cost related to elevating the position to full-time.”

Seniors Daniel Baker and Ryan Prosser and junior MK Sullivan authored the proposal. If approved, the proposal claims, Maurer could better serve the Ithaca College community.

“We view an increase in the position of coordinator for this program from part-time to full-time as an important step for the college to continue as a leader on issues of diversity, acceptance and pluralism,” the proposal’s introduction states. A full-time position would further advance the college’s Institutional Plan, according to the proposal.

In November, the Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association passed resolutions supporting a full-time LGBT coordinator. The two resolutions were sent to President Peggy R. Williams and the college’s vice presidents.

Roger Richardson, assistant vice president for student affairs and campus life, who oversees the LGBT center, said the students’ proposal was well-written and will be reviewed by the board of trustees. He said a decision will be announced in February with other budget measures, but added that a change is unlikely.

“The college has made a decision, in terms of having a part-time position, two years ago,” Richardson said.

When students first pushed for the creation of the center, they requested two full-time staff members, said Baker, president of Created Equal. Instead, they got one part-time coordinator and are now petitioning for the change.

Senior Jennifer Addonizio, Student Government Association vice president of campus affairs, was on the steering committee when students first requested the center and a coordinator.

“We have an unusually large population of LGBT students on campus,” she said. “I think that the administration giving us the part-time position was a huge step, but there certainly is a need for a full-time [commitment].”

Sarah Jefferis, assistant professor of English, said there is the potential for a large number of students at the college to seek Maurer’s services. Jefferis believes that 10 percent of the people in any population are LGBT, meaning at least 600 students have the potential to request the resource center’s services.

“We have a part-time person to respond to, help educate, enlighten, support, love, challenge and care for the potential of 600 students plus their straight allies,” Jefferis said. “She’s a treasure, and I would hope that the college could recognize that. I think this place could be better for students, faculty and staff with a full-time position.” Maurer said that some weeks she receives between 200–300 contacts by e-mail, drop-ins or phone calls. The proposal said an average of 81 of these contacts go unanswered each week because Maurer is busy with administrative commitments, volunteer training and campus outreach.

“She’s a person who’s so dedicated to what she’s doing, and she wants to see change made, that if she had it her way, she would probably be in her office 12 hours a day every day of the week,” said Sullivan, secretary of BIGAYLA.

Of the 10 schools Ithaca College compares itself to based on size and demographics, only one, the University of the Pacific in California, has a similar full-time position. The other nine have student and faculty organizations, but no paid positions serving LGBT students and allies specifically.

Maurer is a member of the National Consortium of Directors of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resources, which includes approximately 100 members who serve in her capacity across the nation.