The Underground

Here we have our own Underground culture. It's made up of a group of people, a population, who are generally unwelcome. It's a group of people who communicate by cryptic messages and signage posted on our "Community" cork boards around campus. It's a group of people who have a secret Facebook group: if you're not in the club you can't see it, and there are no identifying features posted to your profile. It's a group of people who the University refuses to support. Although we are a "club" we don't receive any Student Government funding*. We are off the radar. We don't exist. We live under the rugs and in the dark alleys.

Who are we? We are your lecture-hall neighbors. We sit next to you, study with you, give presentations to you and listen to your presentations. I am that bleary-eyed girl getting coffee right behind you. I gave you that mnemonic you now use. I am the girl who makes your sandwich for lunch. I am the man behind the IT counter. I am your teaching assistant. We're so ordinary, yet so marginalized. Why? Why go to so much trouble to push aside someone who is just like you?

I am a student, a woman, a person with the right to love who I want and not be subject to criticism, derogatory comments, or violence. We are the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people of this island, and this school, and we have a right to be here. So get over it, and get over yourself.






*as far as I know