The University of Mississippi honored LGBTQ month with a reception Thursday evening at Bryant Hall and will host Pride Week next week as part of the month’s celebration.
Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones, Athletics Director Ross Bjork, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Leslie Banahan, Assistant Provost Donald Cole and other campus leaders spoke at the reception.
Multiple “Laramie Project” cast members and theater department chair Rene Pulliam were in attendance as well. Each speaker referenced Tuesday night’s incident. The common theme from multiple speakers was that the incident was “a learning experience” for the university.
Next week, the university will host its previously scheduled Pride Week, which was created under the previous ASB administration’s wing. According to Val Ross, assistant dean of students for multicultural affairs, Ole Miss students will have multiple opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate LGBTQ groups on campus next week.
Tables will be set up outside the Student Union all week where students can pick up ribbons and talk to members of the UM Pride Network, one of the largest undergraduate LGBTQ groups on campus.
