The Spectrum Alliance met last night to discuss the need to reform the organization, which is dedicated to lesbian and gay issues.
The Spectrum Board of Directors hosted an open forum, and members debated everything from membership to political issues.
Jen Bitter, a former University student, raised several issues at the beginning of the meeting.
“In the past few semesters, Spectrum Alliance has misrepresented gays,” Bitter said.
Bitter said the organization is too focused on the use of the word “queer” and publicizing its anti-President Bush stance.
The Spectrum Alliance has not made an effort to support a balanced selection of organizations and businesses, Bitter said.
Bitter urged the members at the meeting to speak to the Board of Directors when its members make unwise decisions.
Daniel Guillot, a mathematics freshman, said there are some organizational problems within the Alliance.
Guillot said the board has not been reaching out to general members.
He also said he is concerned with membership and potential for expansion.
“A lot of people feel uncomfortable here and don’t come back,” Guillot said. “We must address this.”
Guillot also said the Spectrum Alliance addresses too many progressive issues.
Rachel All, a psychology senior, said the board addresses too many progressive issues because it is expressing only its personal views, and that has made people uncomfortable.
Bitter said Spectrum Alliance does not exist to address every political issue.
“We are here to unite [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] students and discuss LGBT issues,” Bitter said.
But George Juge, a University alumni, said Spectrum Alliance should address political issues.
“We should address everything that keeps people down,” Juge said.
Jonathon Clark, a French senior, agreed.
“We are a political organization,” Clark said. “If we stop being political, we become a social organization. That is not who we are.”
Meg Williamson, a wildlife and fisheries freshman, said she thinks the gay community should address more general minority issues instead of just lesbian and gay issues.
She urged the board to work with other minority groups and to refrain from focusing solely on issues that affect the lesbian and gay community.
Juge agreed with Williamson and said the lesbian and gay community should represent all communities.
“Spectrum was founded on the idea of inclusion,” Juge said.
Jessica Stewart, a political science senior, said Spectrum Alliance is not as racially diverse as it could be.
“I was uncomfortable with the fact that there are mostly whites,” Stewart said.