Last spring, Spectrum put on an event called “Can We Talk” which brought faculty, staff and students together to discuss the college and the college’s culture. Dean Joyce Bylander commented that after the event, Spectrum received numerous comments asking the question “how can we keep this [meeting many different people to talk about campus issues] going?” In response, Spectrum is putting on the Talking Sex at Dickinson lunch on Oct. 13 at 12:00 pm in the Social Hall.

Gaven Trinidad, an executive board member of Spectrum and organizer of Talking Sex at Dickinson, explained the focus of this lunch will be on single-sex organizations. He added “The past several years, the campus climate towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) issues have changed gradually, but gender issues seem to have been avoided or misunderstood by many students on this campus.” Trinidad clarified that other gender related issues included gender neutral bathrooms and gender neutral housing.

The current discussion focuses on single-sex organizations and asks what the role of a single-sex organization is on campus. Current examples of single-sex organizations include the fraternities and sororities, the Octals and Syrens acappella groups and Phoenix and the Keystones which focus on community service.

Trinidad wanted to express to students that the lunch “is a safe space . . . people should come in with open minds to hear other people’s perspectives on these issues.” He added that he understood topics of gender are not always easy for students to talk about. However, Trinidad really wanted to communicate that he believes it is necessary for students to talk about these issues to promote a gender inclusive campus.

Bylander also encouraged students to come and talk. “We had such success with having people come out in the evening,” she said about the Can We Talk event last semester, “to engage with one another in meaningful dialogue.” She commented that at the previous event students enjoyed the opportunity to discuss these issues with people beyond their friends. Bylander also mentioned that this time the event will feature a full pizza lunch, rather than just a few snacks.

Currently, Trinidad explained, there are two more lunches covering similar gender-related topics this semester and the program will be continued next semester. Bylander hopes to make this an annual event. She said in an e-mail, “I think, I KNOW, that people in this community would come out to engage in good dialogue, good food and good work on behalf of this community.”