Dec. 18, 2020 7:00p
(WGTD)--Fighting for equality and inclusion in the halls of higher learning can be just as difficult as battling diversity shortcomings and racism in the community as a whole.
Brandon Poler is a sophomore at Carthage College. Within two weeks after arriving on campus as a freshman, someone carved a homophobic slur on his dorm room door.
Poler is gay.
The episode--and other troubling incidents--led him to start a group called "Carthage Community for LGBTQ Visibility and Inclusion."
As he explained on a recent edition of the WGTD Saturday morning program "Generation Now", getting the attention of administration at first was a bit of a struggle. But he now has praise for the school's response.
Homophobia is nothing new to Poler, who said he was victimized as a high school student in Horicon, Wisconsin. His life experiences have not left him bitter. He preaches unconditional love for everyone. "There are so many people out there that all they want to do is to knock you down and knock other people down," he said. "No matter who you're faced with and how they treat you, everybody needs to be loved. And it may not seem like it at first but the more love you put out in the world you're going to get it back 10-fold."
Carthage isn't the only school facing race and gender issues. Tammi Summers leads Gateway Technical College's new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Speaking on a different edition of the program, Summers said she's received non-supportive communications that are anonymously written. She's trying to figure out how to broaden the discussion circle. "We can't make any movement in having a good conversation if you don't come to the table so that we can hear your views, opinions and thoughts," she said.
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