Goals

OutReach's main goals are to break attempt to keep the campus community informed on issues that deal with homosexuality in order to break down stereotypes surrounding the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered community. We also give people in the community, especially the campus community, a network of friends to talk with about life, and any problems they might be having. Another thing we do is support Women's Rights.

History

OutReach was founded in October of 1998 by Jeremiah Stevens in response to the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. Jeremiah felt that there should be a group on campus to combat the stereotypes that surround homosexuality, and attempt to create a more informed community.

Around 15 people attended the first meeting, and the group, which was later named OutReach, had about 10 regular members in its first year. Since Jeremiah was the group's founder, he became the groups first president. Most of OutReach's first year was spent in organizing the group.

We did however do a few things. In the fall we supported World AIDS Day by handing out red ribbons and information. Then in the spring we co-sponsored Safe Sex Week, for which there was an event every night. Some of the events were a movie night (we watched Jeffery and Casual Sex between the movies a guest speaker spoke about one of the local clinics, The Philidelphia Center), a guest lecturer who spoke about STDs and the dangers of date-rape, a "rave" (drug and alchohal free), and a drama performance to raise money for the Philidelphia Center.

Jeremiah Stevens graduated, but he left the organization in the hands of those eager to see the group do more and be more involved. The group has continued to be involved on campus, and such events like Safe Sex Week are quickly becoming an annual affair. Each year the group tries to reach out to the campus community in new and different ways.