After three years leading the Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition (IAGC), its president, Andrews University student Eliel Cruz, has handed leadership over to Jefferson Clark, a senior public relations and international studies major at Southern Adventist University.
IAGC is an unsanctioned but growing network of Gay-Straight Alliances on Adventist college campuses in North America.
In 2011, when Eliel Cruz lived on the Andrews University campus, he never imaged he would have to turn to school administration for protection. However, Cruz said several incidents of on-campus sexual mistreatment made him worry about his personal safety. He had no choice but to ask for help.
With the support of Dr. Nancy Carbonell, associate professor of Clinical Mental Health, Cruz warily approached the student life office where he received assurance that the situation would be taken care of. Cruz was skeptical. “I told them, I don’t trust you,” he said. He felt that past experiences gave him cause to doubt the promises of support. Despite his misgivings, the situation was taken care of as promised, Cruz said. He felt the incident marked a turning point for the LGBT community on campus. Read more...