8C - Tuesday, September 4, 2012

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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com


Spectrum Center
celebrates 40 years

LGBT activists
discuss experiences
during anniversary
events on campus
By DANA DEL VECCHIO
and SABIRA KHAN
For theDaily
and Daily Staff Reporter
Nov. 21, 2011 - After work-
ing for the University as an ath-
letic trainer for the football team
from 1968 to 1979, Lindsy McLean
joined the San Francisco 49ers as
a trainer. But for the 24 years that
McLean worked with the team,
he stalled coming out to his-pro-
fessional community to keep his
personal life and career separate.
During a roundtable discussion
on Friday as part of the Spectrum
Center's 40th anniversary events,.
McLean talked about his experi-
ence coming out and the discrifi-
ination he faced from people in
the industry. After being verbally
harassed at work, McLean found
solace at a church that welcomed
the gay community.
"I'd leave Candlestick Park and
go to church," McLean said. "I
think the fact that I had an outlet
there, it really helped me."_
To overcome his difficulties
and serve as a role model for
other gay people, McLean looked
to others for support including
author Betty Berzon and her book
"Setting Them Straight."
"I thought, what do I have to
lose?" he said. "Maybe I could
help a few others in their strug-
gles against hate and lack of
acceptance by coming out."
McLean was recognized by the
sports community in an ESPN
Magazine article in 2004 that
illustrated his efforts to achieve
increased tolerance for LGBT

During another discussion
on Friday celebrating the Spec-
trum Center's mission to promote
awareness of LGBT issues and
tolerance on campus, philanthro-
pist and technology entrepreneur
David Bohnett discussed his
foundation, the David Bohnett
Foundation - a non-profit, grant-
making organization that aims to
improve society+through social
activism.
Bohnett, a University alum,
said the foundation gives more
than $40 million to various
organizations and is centered
on LGBT leadership programs,
diversity initiatives and devel-
opment of CyberCenters, which
allow members of the LGBT com-
munity to network and communi-
cate with each other.
Bohnett said the foundation
focuses on the challenges of
health and happiness, earning a
living, military and public service,
personal safety, legalizing gay
marriage and other equal oppor-
tunities for members of the LGBT
community. To make significant
changes, Bohnett said there must
be large-scale modifications in
culture and public opinion, which
can stem from legislation in fed-
eral policy such as the repeal of
'don't ask, don't tell'
"We have been and we are
becoming a broader, progressive
movement," Bohnett said. "In
my experience ... we take a great
deal of effort to integrate with the
labor movement, the broader pro-
gressive movement."
Bohnett added that he is sup-
portive of the Obama admin-
istration's willingness to enact
non-discrimination policies that
will impact a variety of LGBT
citizens.
"I was just at a meeting in
Washington this week, and
there's a very deliberate, thought-
ful and specific approach to
include sexual orientation with

the federal adherent re
ment," he said. "That mean
any contract for doing wo
the federal government wil]
to have a non-discriminatio
eyin place for sexual orienta
At a luncheon on Friday
Sherry, associate director
Spectrum Center, gave a
speech lauding the impor
of discussions about LGBT
among generations of alumn
"This really is the heart
weekend - it's about being a
collaborate with each other,
from each other and develop
tionships between student
alumni that can be lasting,"
ry said during the event.
In an interview afte
speech, Sherry said g'
involved with the Spectrum
ter as a graduate student all
him to not only help other
also grow personally.
"It really allowed meas a
uate student to grow and lI
he said. "I had the opportun
be a coming-out group facil
when I was a graduate st
and help other students i
process of coming out."
Sherry said he also persc
sought help from the Spec
Center, and the experience
firmed his dedication to his
since he went through the 
gender transition process
he was a staff member a
Spectrum Center.
"I know, as a person wh
in a place of a lot of supp
the community, that it's s
really hard process, so I ca
imagine for people who ne
find that support and don't
it readily available, henc
importance of our office on
pus," Sherry said.
University Dean of Stu
Laura Blake Jones, who att
the luncheon, said in ani
view after'the event that
impressed by the Spectrum
ter's work and is looking for
to its future endeavors.
"We're leading the coun
terms of being the first plac
has a Spectrum Center,",
said. "We continued to s
be innovative and lead our
around the country in ter
program areas that have o
up, and I'm just really exci
see what the next 40 year
going to be like."
inan interview during th
cheon on Friday, University
Thomas 'McCulloch, a r
attorney living in Lansing, 
said he is surprised and impr
by the continual developmc
new programs at the Univ
since he graduated in 1975.
"It's very interesting be
the Spectrum Center didn't
when I was an undergrac
and this is just another ex
where I'm constantly awar
sort of marvel at how times
changed," McCulloch said.

quire-
s that
rk for
1 have
n poli-
tion."
Will
of the
short
tance
issues
Ii.
of the
ible to
learn
rela-
s and
Sher-
r his
etting
Cen-

0

owed The newly constructed C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women s Hospital on Nov. 5, 2011
s, but
grad-Pa
earn,"
iYty t ai n s mo ei t
itator
udent
n the new Motthospital
onally
ctrum
reaf- In iht hous,170
rk In eigh hours, Patients in the newborn and Twitter pages. Photos and
tran patients transfer intensive care unit and children postings generated comments
while in other intensive care units from those connected to the
it the to women's and were moved into the new space hospital, many offering memo-
first. The last patient settled in ries of the hospital or thank-
co sits Children's hospital by 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. ing hospital staff. Others wrote
ort in Kara Gavin, University questions about where new
till a By MICHELE NAROV of Michigan Health System departments will be located and
n only Daily StaffReporter spokeswoman, said the most how the move was progressing.
ed to impressive aspect of the project Gavin said parents of past
t have Dec. 5, 2011 - One-hundred was its scope. patients and future patients
e the and seventy patients traversed "I was walking around the were eager to see the develop-
cam- an indoor passageway yesterday building in the hours before the ments online.
connecting the old C.S. Mott different areas started to move "They're asking questions
dents Children's Hospital and Von and it's amazing that even as big and commenting," Gavin said.
ended Voigtlander Women's Hospital as this building is, everything is "So this virtual community that
inter- as the hospitals' new $754 mil- ready," Gavin said. is beingbuilt around Mott is also
she is lion home opened for business Thousands of staff members being engaged today."
Cen- yesterday. and about 300 volunteers, most- Gavin added that all the prep-
-ward Over an eight-hour period, ly comprised of members of the aration added to the anticipation
170 patients from every depart- UMHS community, contributed of the opening of the new build-
try in ment of the hospital made the to the effort. To ensure patients ing.
e that transition to the 348 inpatient were well fed and hydrated, "Staffwho have been work-
Jones rooms, 50 maternity tooms, 48 meals were provided from Plum ing incthe old building have been
srt of neonatal intensive care rooms Market in Ann Arbor. prepping for this and waiting for
peers and 16 operating rooms in the To make the move more excit- this," Gavin said. "Now that it's
ms of new building. ing for patients, the staff devel- finally here, all this training is
pened The outpatient facilities will oped a theme of traveling on paying off."
ted to continue to be transitioned into an airplane and provided small Pat Warner, executive direc-,
s are the new space throughout next gifts, such as backpacks, blan- tor of the new hospital, said
week. Once the move is com- kets and coloring books. the transition went smoothly
Ielun- plete, the old hospital facility Kathy Wade, director of throughout the day, adding that
alum will consist of single rooms for social work for UMHS, said the staff members were prepared
etired adult patients. theme was intended to create a for any possible interruption to
Mich., The transfer process began last welcoming environment for the the move, including deliveries of
essed Wednesday when hospital staff hospital community. - babies or emergency situations
ent of started categorizing the patients "We really tried to address like cardiac arrests.
ersity by severity of symptoms in order it from babies to kids to ado- "With a move like this, you
to move individuals with more lescents to teenagers that ar plan every contingency you can
cause serious conditions first, accord- moving," Wade said. "And the think of," Warner said. "Have
exist ing to University spokeswoman families, we've involved them we along the way had to make
duate, Margarita Wagerson. Last Satur- since the very beginning." tweaks in the plan? Yes. But
ample day night, staff members began Gavin said nurses and staff have there been any barriers or
e and preparations for the transition members of one intensive care things we didn't have an imme-
have and started to move patients yes- unit even made Top Gun T-shirts diate solution to? No."
terday morning at 7a.m. to follow the theme. According to Warner, there
"It was a way of making it fun were no emergencies,, but the
NOW L EASmING for the kids and for the staff and day did not pass without some-
N WV LEASING of thinking about it as a jour- excitemenLThe first baby was
ney," Gavin said. "A very short born in the new hospital at 8:45
journey, but a journey." a.m. yesterday, before the move
Throughout the day, updates was completed to parents Yas-
D TES STARTING AT were posted on UHS's Facebook mina Debieb and Ali Mahmoudi.
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