Only 18 people occupied Angell Hall Auditorium A last night during a panel discussion on sexual orientation, making it the second Diversity Days event in the last two days with low attendance.
While Diversity Days coordinator Adam Schlifke, an LSA junior, said he was disappointed by the lack of participation at last night's event, he said it is a good start for the program's future success.
"I would like to have seen more people here today," Schlifke said. "I think that in the coming years it will be more popular. Diversity Days is to begin discussion on these types of issues. Once people start talking about these issues, more people will start talking."
Public Health first-year graduate student Andy Timleck said that even though the program was designed to increase understanding by bringing people of all sexual orientations together, it would have been difficult for a non-homosexual person to comfortably attend last night's program. But he said the program is an important step toward dissolving stereotypes.
"I think any type of program makes strides," Timleck said. "Ten years ago, this wouldn't have even been an option."
Last night's panel included Ronni Sanlo, director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Programs Office and three students, who candidly spoke of the trials of living a homosexual life on campus.
Panelist Luke Klipp, an LSA first-year student, warned that he constantly faces prejudice toward homosexuals.
"These stories are simply little pieces of our experiences," Klipp said. "It still goes on."
The panelists told their personal stories about "coming out" as homosexual.
"What's been great about coming out for me is its given me a whole new perspective on everything," said panelist Michael Burke, an LSA senior.
"Coming out sort of changed my whole career and life," Burke said. "Coming out was a very scary and difficult process, but if you have support, it helps a lot."
The panelists also acknowledged the problems they face in Ann Arbor.
"There is a difference between outwardly liberal and inwardly liberal," said Neela Ghoshal, an LSA sophomore.
"Ann Arbor is outwardly liberal. People like to talk about diversity, but for me that is not enough. We need people to be more supportive, more active. We need people who are not homosexual to come to a panel on lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues," Ghoshal said.
All of the panelists criticized the atmosphere of diversity in Ann Arbor, saying that more people need to stand up and be actively involved.
"Ann Arbor is more conservative than I thought," Klipp said. "As liberal as it tries to be, my experience is that it is pretty difficult to be homosexual on campus."
Burke said that the attitude on campus is more about tolerance than acceptance.
"Outside of the LGBPO, some of the administration and some offices have a lot of homophobic sentiments there, which is not cool at all," Burke said.
Sanlo said that as more people "come out," backlash against homosexuals increases.
"We do need to encourage our allies to be comfortable enough with their own sexuality to openly support us," he said.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Ronni Sanlo, director of LGBPO, listens as Michael Burke, a Mary Markley residence hall advisor, recounts his "coming out" experiences.