Campus Y Chooses Presidents, Expands Number of Programs

The organization's officials also have formed several new programs recently to address social justice issues and reflect the mission of the organization.

Newly elected co-presidents David Angeles and Hildy Fong were involved with the Campus Y's executive board and served on various committees dedicated to social justice and service.

One of the Campus Y's efforts this year was the formation of SPECTRUM, a committee dedicated to advocating awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues on campus.

"Mainly what we're working toward is education and outreach," said Patrick Stephenson, co-chairman of SPECTRUM.

Stephenson said the committee will put a resource area in the Campus Y building for people who need information and materials on LGBT issues. SPECTRUM might also visit residence halls to host educational "LGBT 101" programs.

Raj Panjabi, one of Campus Y's co-presidents, stressed that SPECTRUM is not only for LGBT students but also is open to those who need help coming out, family or friends of LGBT students, or people who care about the issue.

"We want them to know there are places for each of them and each can make a contribution," he said.

SPECTRUM plans to co-sponsor Celebration Week the first week of April with Queer Network for Change and Safe Zone from the Center for Healthy Student Behaviors. This happens to coincide with the Campus Y's Human Rights Week, which it will incorporate into Celebration Week.

Another program the Campus Y has taken on is the guidance of Special Project Innovators, people who want to accomplish something related to social justice or service while focusing on a specific issue they are passionate about.

The Campus Y offers the use of the Campus Y building and its support for students to complete their project in one semester.

Last semester, students tackled such projects as creating a newspaper written by the homeless, starting a basketball league for low-income Hispanic youth and celebrating the 50-year anniversary of integration at UNC.

Students this semester are working on developing a scholarship fund for female Afghani refugees to attend school at a UNC-system school.

"It's good to see that there's so much initiative," Panjabi said.

He attributes this year's success to the co-chairmen of the committees. "The (co-chairmen) have been phenomenal," he said. "A lot of people have been doing a lot of good things."

Panjabi's co-president, Liza Potter, said she is pleased with all that Campus Y has accomplished this year.

"We've been able to confront social justice issues from every angle," she said.

"Each year the Y helps in a more widespread way. We've reached populations we've never reached."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.