Our Mission
The Core Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Questioning Students (previously known as The Standing Committee on Gay and Lesbian Student Needs) acts as a resource to the Vice President for Student Affairs in identifying the ongoing needs of gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual students, and assists in implementing campus-wide educational programming on gay and lesbian issues.
The Notre Dame Response
The History of the Core Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Questioning Students
In the spring of 1995 an Ad Hoc Committee, composed of administrators, faculty, staff and students, was established to recommend how the University should respond to the needs of gay and lesbian students within the context of Catholic teaching. Discussions continued throughout the academic year 1995-1996 and culminated in a series of recommendations by the committee. More >>>
Events and Programming
The Core Council's cornerstone outreach programs - Coffee at the CoMo and Conversations in the Gold Room -provide a monthly outlet for GLBT & Questioning students to come together in a safe space. While Coffee at the CoMo provides a casual, unstructured social environment, Conversations in the GoldRoom is conversation facilitated by a staff member in the University Counseling Center with topics chosen by Core Council members. Previoius topics have included In or Out: Closet or RevolvingDoor? Welcome Home Under the Dome, and Home for the Holidays: Out and About. In addition, the CoreCouncil sponsors a Welcome Reception for first year students, National Coming Out Day on October 11, Solidarity Sunday in November, with the largest events surrounding StaND Against Hate Week in April, ending with the National Day of Silence. Pelase see our Events page for more detail. More>>>
Our Structure
The Core Council consists of eight undergraduate students, a majority of whom are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and four administrators from within the Division of Student Affairs. One of the students will serve as co-chair; the second co-chair will come from the Office of Student Affairs. The remaining administrators will come from the Office of Campus Ministry, University Counseling Center, and Gender Relations Center.
The Coalition, which works in cooperation with the Core Council, will consist of a representative from Student Government and various representatives from other student groups. For a more detailed description of the structure of and relationship between these two groups, please view the organizational chart for the Core Council for Gay and Lesbian Students.