Month: April 2012

By Amanda Ayers

News Editor

Randy Roberts Potts recounted his emotional story “Growing up Gay and Christian: How I Lived to Tell the Tale” in Trout Auditorium Wednesday night. Potts spoke about coping with being gay as the grandson of the first world-famous televangelist, Oral Roberts. He specifically delved into his quest to piece together the life of his gay and mysterious Uncle Ronnie, a tortured soul whose story mirrored Potts’ in every way except that Ronnie ultimately chose to commit suicide.

“[When I was young] I was told that God hates [people being gay] so much that he burned entire cities because of it. I knew this related to me but not how,” Potts said.

Potts told many stories of his childhood and explained the family dynamic. His grandfather was a worldwide celebrity, so well known that people from India could write only “Oral Roberts” on an envelope and the letter would miraculously get delivered to the family compound, one of their many homes.

“[My grandfather] was the kind of man that when he walked into the room, everyone knew he was there,” Potts said.

Potts’ parents made sure to instill their strict Christian values in their children from a young age. They sensed that Randy was gay early on, and because  they could not reconcile it with their religious beliefs, they  tried to eradicate any behaviors that reminded them of his deceased uncle’s.

“We were allowed to listen to the Beatles until after the album ‘Help’ where apparently, according to my parents, they went weird,” Potts said. 

Despite pressures from his family and self-denial, Potts admitted to being the “seventh-grade gay kid at an evangelical Christian school.” He had five crushes on boys in middle school. If he had felt this way about girls, he would have been welcomed and understood by his family. But to like the wrong gender was an “abomination.”

“Feelings is all they were. They were unasked for, unwelcome and unknown,” Potts said.

His parents got rid of Potts’ stuffed animals, for example, except one that Potts was able to hide and “keep in the closet,” and did everything they could to keep Potts from following in his uncle’s footsteps, which they could see he was unintentionally but undeniably doing. Potts did not know about his uncle’s sexuality until after the suicide. Both Potts and his uncle were married at 20, had children who they were terrified of leaving, became teachers, came out as being gay and then became suicidal. Their paths diverged when Potts made the decision not to end his life.

“I knew I wasn’t going to turn out like my uncle because I wanted to live,” Potts said. “I do not want to be wasted underground. This is not for me.”

Potts shared a letter that he wrote to his uncle and read aloud the night before he officially came out to his family. In it, he expressed his anger at his uncle for leaving him alone to cope with his sexuality and not considering the repercussions of his selfish decision to take a pistol to the heart.

“I would have held you in my arms if I had been a man at the time,” Potts read. “Why must that bullet be the only example you left me?”

After having officially come out six years ago, Potts is in a happy place in his life. He divorced his wife but still has custody of his children and gets to see them regularly. He has dated many men and will be officially married in May after a judge in New York signs his paperwork.

“I’m happy, I’m gay, but I’m not defined by my sexuality. I’m just another guy living his life, raising his kids, who happens to be gay.”

The talk was free and open to the public, and was sponsored by Chi Phi Fraternity, the Office of LGBT Awareness, the Office of Multicultural Student Services, the Dean of Students Office, Bucknell Protestant Ministries, Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council.

In addition, Potts has recently become involved in the “It Gets Better Project,” recording a video for the campaign and contributing to their recent book containing a compilation of successful coming out stories. He will be actively touring the country, starring in a new performance art piece entitled, “The Gay Agenda.”

By Siobhan Murray

Writer

Recent reports from administrators indicate that while fewer fraternities hosted events during this year’s House Party Weekend, the number of individual citations increased. Only four or five fraternities were allowed to have parties at a give time in comparison to past years, when up to 10 or 12 fraternities could host House Party Weekend events. This year’s situation allowed the Department of Public Safety to focus its efforts more narrowly and for alternative, non-alcoholic events to have a greater presence on campus.

Most striking about this year’s House Party Weekend incidences was Public Safety’s report of 28 liquor law violation judicial referrals, six disorderly judicial referrals and nine total DUI citations. These numbers are a stark contrast from last year’s House Party, when there were only nine judicial referrals resultant from liquor law violations and three from disorderly conduct. 

“What’s really concerning is the number of DUIs, which has been steadily increasing in recent years. This has a lot to do with students going downtown parties and driving back and forth between uphill campus and downtown,” Chief of Public Safety Jason Friedberg said.

Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department reported 13 underage arrests, up from the eight last year.
As less official options were available to students because of multiple fraternities being on social probation, many events migrated downtown, and lines at official events grew longer.

“Students tend to find a balance between parties on different parts of campus. If fewer events are uphill, on Fraternity Road, more will appear downtown. That’s the reality, where venues change to being downtown,” Friedberg said.

Security presence on campus throughout the weekend was a key characteristic of the duration of House Party. Public Safety officers stayed on constant patrol throughout campus as they usually do, mainly focusing on Fraternity Road, as well as the Elaine Langone Center, Uptown and Seventh Street Cafe. Buffalo Valley Regional Police largely occupied downtown areas. Since there were less parties, Public Safety officials were able to oversee parties more efficiently.

“The big focus was keeping lines outside parties at least in check,” Friedberg said. “Academic buildings are always a priority as well, to guard against any theft or vandalism that may occur.”

Students definitely noticed increased levels of security around campus.

“I would say that we experienced a heightened amount of security inhibited students’ freedoms relative to last year and their choices about where they wanted to spend time. You do need the security, but it was way too out of hand. There were so many hired security personnel that they didn’t even know what to do,” Josh Leighton ’14 said.

Students also noted that the interactions they had with Public Safety on House Party Weekend were generally positive.

“I thought things were handled really well, and that security was really polite to me,” Anna MacAlister ’12 said.

Public Safety appreciated the alternative student programming offered during this year’s House Party Weekend, including Bison Fest, a collaborative effort by the Deans of Students, Campus Activities and Programs (CAP) Center, Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council, Office of Residential Education, CHOICE and Bucknell Student Government (BSG). Bison Fest, along with events hosted at the Campus Theatre that Friday night, were meant to provide students with alternative, non-alcoholic options for the weekend.

“First and foremost, we wanted to provide students with fun, exciting options for those who were not interested in House Party activities. All students were welcome and encouraged to come, and given the high attendance everyone seemed to enjoy the food, friends and amazing atmosphere.  In addition, we wanted to help students who were participating in House Party to be safe and smart,” said Laura Yeckley, assistant director of campus activities and programs.

“Alternative student programming made our job a lot easier,” Friedberg said. “I haven’t heard any anecdotal stories of students calling their parents to be picked up for the weekend, to escape the events of House Party.”

By Lauren Buckley
Contributing Writer

Bucknell Student Government (BSG) 2015 is raising money for their class through “President’s Press,” an event in which BSG representatives are ironing clothing on campus.

The fundraiser occurred on April 12, April 13 and yesterday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The final session of “President’s Press” is today from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Any student can drop off shirts, pants, dresses or any wrinkled item with first-year BSG members, and they will have them ironed and ready for formals, Chrysalis or any other formal event. BSG 2015 will charge $3 for a single item and $5 for two. 

BSG 2015 representatives are working hard with these creative events to promote unity among their class and fundraise for future class events, including their senior gift and Senior Nights. First-year BSG members also hosted a free root beer float event on April 17 outside of the uphill entrance of the Elaine Langone Center.

“Our short term goals include unity and bonding events, such as the root beer floats event and the s’mores event which we hosted earlier in the year. Our longer term goals include purchasing a class gift, as well as hosting a variety of Senior Nights to celebrate our time at Bucknell,” Colin Hassell ’15, BSG 2015 president said. 

“Our job as members of BSG is to bring our class together, so naturally we try to raise money in any way that we can so that we can then give it back to the class of 2015 in the form of entertainment and events,” Chris Jarvis ’15, a BSG 2015 representative, said.

These events have also been fantastic opportunities to advertise BSG elections for the 2012-2013 academic year which took place yesterday.

By Christina Oddo

Writer

IFC and Panhellenic hosted Wingfest as part of “Go Greek Week”
 on Wednesday evening in Larison Dining Hall. This event supported the Million Penny Project, benefiting the 2012-recipient, The Hand-UP Foundation of Milton. Students ate wings donated by Bucknell’s fraternities, as well as wings donated by local eateries. Participants also voted for their favorite wing.

The Million Penny Project (MPP) is an initiative of the Panhellenic Council and IFC that has the goal of raising $10,000 (a million pennies) to benefit one particular nonprofit service organization in the community each year. Stephanie Thomas ‘13 of Panhellenic and Nick Pistone ’14 of IFC selected Hand-UP from a group of six nonprofits that were considered to be MPP recipients.

“We visited all six of them to learn about who they are and what they stand for and get a sense of their vision.  They were all great organizations and it was a difficult decision, but we chose Hand-UP. We really wanted to promote their philosophy of a hand up rather than a handout,” Pistone said.

With the money raised from MPP, Hand-UP intends to build a Crisis Shelter.

“MPP is important to us and this year we really want it to be more than just a $10,000 check.  We want to partner with Hand-UP and spread the word about what they do and the people they help in Milton,” Pistone said.

The Hand-UP Foundation is a faith-based, non-profit organization based in Milton, Pennsylvania. This foundation has helped families and individuals in the community overcome crisis situations since 2003. Hope, encouragement and support are offered through Hand-UP. Those helped are expected to volunteer to give back to the community and to the organization. Hand-UP provides clothing, food, vehicles, counseling, homes, and financial assistance to those in need.

“Their goal is to empower the poor to live better lives for themselves,” Pistone said. “Our goal is to spread that message, as well as highlight Hand-UP for all the good they do in the community.”

Students can further help this initiatve by donating directly to MPP through Penhellenic or IFC at events like Wing Fest, Greek Iron Chef, or the Zombie Walk. Also, students may want to consider volunteering with Hand-Up. Those who want to volunteer can visit handupfoundation.org or call Hand-Up at (570) 742-3000.