THE UNIVERSITY DAIRY KANSAN VEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 NEWS 3A LGBT Speaker sheds light on life as a transgender person BY JOE PREINER jpreiner@kansan.com Debra Davis is a hugger. She describes herself as a parent, grandmother, good friend and good neighbor. She's also a transgender person. Davis will be relating her experiences in her presentation "Transgender: The New Face on Campus" at 7 p.m. at the Courtside Room in the Burge Union. Today is Queens and Allies Transgender Awareness Day, which is one reason Davis will be on campus this week. Davis focuses her presentations on her life as a transgender person. The presentation, of which Davis has given more than 1.000, has taken her to campuses across the Midwest, including previous visits to the University. Davis said she enjoyed speaking at each school because of the experiences she had at each one. She said people often asked her what it was like to transition from male to female. Davis dedicates a portion of her time to tell stories about her life and the transition process, which started when she was a high school librarian. She also reserves time for questions from the audience. She said being led in new directions by the students' curiosity was the most exciting part of her tours around the Midwest during the past several years. Ashlynn Horras, Knoxville, Iowa, junior, and member of KU Queers and Allies, said she had attended Davis' presentation on a previous visit. Horras said the presentation was effective because Davis was open and honest about transgender people. Horras, a Queers and Allies member, said members of the LGBT "The T part of LGBT gets ignored or marginalized too often," Horras said. "I never know where people will bring me," Davis said. "That's what's really fun about it. Plus, I'm hard to embarrass, so people can ask anything." People in the LGBT community aren't the only ones who sometimes ignore transgender people, Davis said. She said that her identity didn't revolve around being a transgender person, but sometimes that was all people chose to see. "People just struggle with diversity," Davis said, "no matter what it is." community, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, sometimes failed to realize that the community was more diverse than gay and lesbian. Davis said although she was generally well-received, people at some schools had not been as accepting. Davis said she had received hate mail and death threats scribbled on the sidwalk in front of venues where she was scheduled to speak. Schools have advised her on several occasions to allow guards to accompany her during her visits. Shaikhly refused the offer. She kindly refused the offers. "I go where I'm asked because people are curious," Davis said. "No one is required to be there. We all need to be accepting and loving." CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Rachel Gadd-Nelson, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore and public relations manager for Queers and Allies, said awareness for transgender people would not come immediately, despite the efforts of people such as Davis. She said that misunderstandings regarding transgender people were common, even in the gay and lesbian community. Gadd-Nelson said the problem stemmed from difficulty defining gender for transgender people. Davis said the point of her presentation was to explain how people became transgender individuals. She said the issue was not clear-cut. "I don't know if I ever understand the whole thing." Davis said. Nelson said Davis' presentation soild help people understand Debra Davis will visit the University to speak about her experiences as a transgender person night at 7. She has given many presentations at campuses around the Midwest in recent years. more diverse communities. Hortas said accessibility to diversity was what college was all about. not just in the credits we're enrolled in." "We're college students and we're here to learn." Horas said. "And Edited by Mary Sorrick funded by: THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS November 12, 2008 KNOW WHERE YOUR FOOD CAME FROM? Probably at least 1500 miles from Lawrence. Why should this matter to you? Come And Find Out What Local People Are Doing About It! LAWRENCE'S LOCAL FOOD AND LOCALVORES Presentation by DAN NAGENGAST of the Kansas Rural Center Open discussion moderated by SIMRAN SETHI With local growers, entrepreneurs, and educators. 6:00 PM Thursday Nov.13th ECM 1204 Oread Sponsors: KU Environs, E.A.R.T.H, Oxfam KU, Lawrence Fair Trade envirom Oxfam America RUN ALL FOR TWO WEEKS! all located on the 3rd floor of the Kansas Union! For more information/questions e-mail slam@ku.edu All students are encouraged audition. Bring in one or two monologue(s) equaling up to 2 minutes. THE SERVICE LEARNING AMBASSADORS invites You to COMPLETE your certification by attending reflection sessions: The Multicultural Theatre Initiative, or MTI, is a body started this year at the University of Kansas. The MTI seeks to create diverse thought-provoking entertainment using artists and resources that vary the cultural nature of the piece of theatre while preserving and enhancing the story. Any and all students interested Homework for Friday: Attend services in Woodruff Auditorium at 6 P.M. Enjoy dinner in the Ballroom at 7 P.M. ROCK CHALK SHABBAT Kansas Union November 14, 2008 Extra Credit:*Bring non-perishables for harvesters or donations for Chad Fellows *Stay the whole night and receive prizes from the annual raffle and enhancing the story. Any and all students interested in being involved in the MTI in any way should contact Tosin Morohunfola at Tobam88@ku.edu. PRODUCTION: For Colored Girls by Ntozake Shange AUDITION DATES: November 16,3-6pm November 17,7-10pm Callbacks on Nov. 18th from 6-10pm. AUDITION LOCATION: Room 341,Murphy Hall 11/11 2:30 - 3:30 pm Alcove J 11/12 10-11 am Alcove A 11/13 6-7 pm Alcove J 11/19 6-7pm Alcove B 11/20 12:1pm Alcove J 11/21 2-3 pm Alcove J Multicultural Theatre Initiative (MTI) Auditions definition: (rok chawk sha-baht) 1. the largest Shabbat celebration ever at KD 2. a time spent with over 500 family and friends 3. the place to be on November 14th Presents...Professor Robert Turner, University of Virginia School of Law "Resolved: The 1973 War Powers Resolution is Unconstitutional, Unnecessary, Unwise, and ought to be Repealed." WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 4:00-5:00pm Green Hall (Law School Building) Room 127 The 7th Annual Career Development Conference Friday, November 21, 2008 at the 4th floor of the Kansas Union 12:30-5:00pm Open to ALL KU students, free of charge! Attend interactive workshops, compete in a case competition, and gain valuable knowledge from a panel of speakers. Who: Delta Delta Delta Sorority What: Hot Chocolate Stand When: Nov.17th-Nov.20th 9:00 am - 1:00 pm each day Why: To support St.Jude Children's Research Hospital Where: Wescoe Beach Cost:$1 per cup & any extra donations are appreciated! THE KU MARKETING CLUB PRESENTS THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY KU Cultural India Club --- Online experience a night of Indian culture by celebrating 'Diwali' with us. Indian dance and music performances followed by delectable Indian cuisine When: Nov. 16th, 2008 (6:00 pm) Where: Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045 Admission: FREE Indian Dinner: Members: $7 / Non-members: $10 Dinner tickets can be bought at the venue Nonmembers: $10 dinner ticket Visit us : http://groups.ku.edu/~kuiindia/ Alternative Spring Break with Lutheran Campus Ministry Everyone is invited to come and learn about this opportunity to join in community service and to sightsee in the Big Apple. Informational meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 8:00 p.m. Lutheran Campus Ministry *18 East 13th St. Interested? Email: juliejh@ku.edu The Multicultural Theatre Initiative (MTI) presents... BLUE/ORANGE (a play about race and racial perceptions) Saturday and Sunday, November 15 & 16, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Soundstage at KU's Oldfather Studios 1621 W 9th St., Lawrence, KS 66044 FREE. Donations accepted. Limited seating---please arrive early! ---