Vulpillieres says better group organization may hold the key, arguing that queer groups at Brandeis and Northeastern owe their success, at least in part, to their weekly meetings. In contrast, BGLTSA has held only three community meetings this year.

While BGLTSA Co-chair Fred O. Smith ’04 says he agrees the group needs better organization—more frequent meetings are already in the works—he takes issue with Vulpillieres’ characterization of the organization as conservative.

“While BOND doesn’t take stances on political issues, we do take a stance on homophobia,” Smith says.

He adds that “a more moderate approach” can sometimes be more effective than an aggressively political one.

Tremitiere says he agrees, arguing that the context of the times often dictates groups’ policies.

“There seems to have been a decrease in homophobic vandalism [on campus],” he says.

The most recent string of incidents led Mather House tutor and BGLTSA adviser K. Kyriell Muhammed to leave Mather and resign from his advisory post two years ago.

The change in climate on campus means that the organization has been able to “focus on a wider range of issues,” although fighting homophobia remains a “top priority,” Tremitiere says.

Vulpillieres says she intends to present her thesis to BGLTSA members today.

A Need for BOND-ing?

At the last community meeting of BGLTSA, a member broached an interesting question: is there still a need for two BGLT student organizations? (Girlspot is a female-specific group.)

BOND founder Clifford S. Davidson ’02 writes in an e-mail that it is “good to have options.”

Tremitiere says that while he feels the distinction between the two groups has blurred, he agrees that having two groups is a positive thing.

“We [BGLTSA and BOND] get more work done this way,” he says.

Other members add that each group serves a distinct purpose, though the membership of gay groups like BGLTSA, BOND, and Girlspot overlap.