Washington University is encouraging its students, faculty and staff to donate to the United Way of Greater St. Louis, a philanthropic organization that supports social-service agencies. The groups that the United Way of Greater St. Louis supports include the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), an organization with a strict anti-homosexual policy.

Next week, the Student Forum on Sexuality (X-Magazine) and Safe Zones will present Washington University’s first ever Genderqueer Week.

Tyler Clementi’s death was just one of several suicides by gay students in this past month alone. LGBT rights and acceptance has been, and continues to be, an extremely important issue on campuses. Here at Wash. U. we have a very active student body, and LGBT rights remains one of the most important issues for students on campus.

As some of you already know, and all of you are going to find out, Wash. U. exists in a bubble—a bubble where people can be comfortable and be respected for who they are.

Hoping to educate students about GLBTQIA issues and to promote diversity, the Washington University Pride Alliance held its Awareness Week this past week.