SU London announces new support network for LGBT students

SU London announces new support network for LGBT studentsOctober 15, 2007SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Syracuse University London has expanded its extracurricular programming with a new resource specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, and their straight allies. Faraday Pride, the first organized group of its kind on an SU Abroad campus, aims to provide a network for social connections as well as emotional support. Discussions and activities will explore various themes, including the history of gay rights, dealing with homophobia, and efforts towards inclusion in the United Kingdom.

The inspiration for Faraday Pride came from Edward Beeby, a former SUL student and now senior at SU, who is active in the LGBT Resource Center on the SU home campus. Beeby, who spent the Spring 2007 semester in London says, “There is no better place in Europe to be gay than London — gay students, straight students and anyone interested in the London experience have a lot to gain from Faraday Pride.”

According to Brian Nocella, SUL special projects coordinator and staff leader of Faraday Pride: “We’re pleased to be providing additional support to students who are away from their familiar surroundings. On the social networking front, the partnerships we’re building with LGBT societies of nearby British universities also serve as an opportunity to interact with British and international students beyond the SUL community.”

“The new Faraday Pride group signifies yet another way in which Syracuse University recognizes the important aspects of diversity that the LGBT community brings to bear on academic and student life,” says Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center at SU. “This is a very exciting development for students.”

For nearly 50 years, SU Abroad has offered credit-bearing study abroad opportunities for students enrolled at SU and other colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Today, SU Abroad maintains academic centers in Beijing, Florence, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Santiago, and Strasbourg, which all host study abroad programs throughout the academic year and in the summer. Each center has close ties to local universities, allowing students to design integrated programs of study appropriate to their academic and language abilities.

For more information on Faraday Pride, contact Brian Nocella at b.nocella@syracuse-u.ac.uk or faradaypride@gmail.com.