Shiva Subbaraman’s job as associate director of the University of Maryland’s LGBT Equity office is safe following a decision by a provost last week. (Blade file photo)
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JOSHUA LYNSEN
Friday, May 09, 2008
The University of Maryland’s LGBT Equity office has been spared budget cuts that had threatened to reduce the staff to just one person.
Last week’s decision by Nariman Farvardin, provost of the College Park campus, keeps in place the office’s two administrators. It also makes permanent a position that was temporary.
“This is really welcome news,” said Luke Jensen, the office’s director. “It took a long time to get here, but it’s certainly still welcome.”
Students and faculty at College Park had rallied to defend the office and its associate director, Shiva Subbaraman, whose job would have been eliminated had the office’s funding not been sustained.
“There was a lot of public reaction and community reaction to simply the potential that this would happen,” Jensen said. “If there was a question before, there is none now about the usefulness of this office and the work that she’s done here the last two years.”
Jensen said he was glad the dustup gave Farvardin an opportunity to hear from people who support the LGBT Equity office — and those who oppose it.
“I think it surprised and shocked him,” he said, “and I think it really underscored for him the importance of supporting our LGBT students.
Jensen said it was unfortunate, though, that the scramble to save Subbaraman’s job came during the college’s first queer studies symposium.
“That was completely overshadowed,” he said. “And that’s unfortunate, because we ended up stepping on our own message about how good we are.”
Going forward, Jensen said he wants to make it clear the College Park campus is “a good place for queer students.”
Jensen said he hopes Subbaraman, who applied for work elsewhere when she learned her job was in danger, would join him in that work.
“I’m hoping that within the next couple of weeks, anyway, we can have it settled,” he said. “But then I don’t know what the timetables are for other institutions, either. I’m sure she’ll get at least one offer. She might get more. But I’m hoping we can convince her to stay.”
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