[From the Winter, 1996 issue of The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Newsletter]

Frosh Group Successful. Bruce Richman, Ed.M '94 and several other Proctors organized a group this fall [1995] for gay, lesbian and bisexual first-year students who did not feel that existing student groups or College services met their needs. This is his report: "Approximately fifteen freshman are involved with the group which meets every two weeks. Two first-year students were nominated as co-chairs. The first hour is a discussion revolving around topics such as "dorm life," "coming out stories," "being gay in high school." For many of the students it is the first time they have been in a supportive and comfortable peer group, that is neither "too political" nor a "meat market," but a safe place where they can feel a sense of community and hear stories and encouragement from others that validate and support their own experiences and feelings. The students feel strongly that it should continue to be a "freshman only" group because of the unique concerns that freshman share. The student feel that it is essential to maintain confidentiality and to respect each other's privacy and varying degrees of "outness" in the community. Consequently, rules of conduct and sensitivity outside the group are followed. During the social hour, the group is interested in bringing in other proctors and administrators who are gay or gay friendly so that the students might be able to identify positive gay role models on campus and get connected to the larger gay support network at Harvard."