Show 4 il t i f I. I l w wA i X W A wad J w wW wi h R 9 d I I 1 9 d f. f N j P t X f I Photo by Devin Fisher The Malt Barn is a little piece of Americana still alive in Utah Gay fund helps disowned students pay for college Lloyd Farnham CPS STUDENTS at Occidental College in Los Angeles have kicked off a scholarship fund to help gay or lesbian students students students stu stu- dents whose parents have cut them off financially because of their sexual orientation Johnny Aguilar a junior suggested the idea for the scholarship fund to the schools school's Bisexual Gay and andI Lesbian Alliance earlier this I t year The organization then held its first fund raising drive Ag Aguilar ilar came up with the idea when a friend was forced to leave school because of financial problems tl that it I. I ar arps t after sh she told her parents was a lesbian The scholarship fund is believed to be the first of its kind in the country according according according accord accord- ing to Jonathan assistant assistant assistant as as- dean of students and advisor to the alliance Many students will not come out to their family bec because because be be- c cause use they fear being cut off said When students are financially financially financially finan finan- dependent on their parents they find it difficult to disclose their sexual orientation orientation orientation orien orien- tation said Peggy Olson who serves on the executive board of a Los Angeles group called Parents and Friends of Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Les Les- bian and Gays I have never neve heard of anything anything anything any any- thing like this fund fond and it sounds like a gr great t idea she said The scholarship committee will be headed by a student and committee members will include representatives r from the fi financial ancial aid office the de dean in of students office the counseling center the faculty and gay and lesbian alumni Aguilar said The committee will review applications and interview st students den ts before awarding scholarships based on need Currently more than 1200 has been raised for the fund The only academic requirement requirement requirement require require- ment will be that the student display the ability to successfully successfully successfully success success- fully complete studies at Occidental Occidental Occidental Oc Oc- Oc- Oc Coll College ge To be considered considered con con- on- on eligible applicants also must be active in the gay and lesbian comm community unity Aguilar said Abuse of the fund is always a possibility but if it does get abused we will figure out other ways to administer it said The Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Lesbian Lesbian Les Les- bian Alliance plans to hold more raisers fund-raisers that would include th the gay and lesbian communities in Los Angeles and gay and lesbian alumni |