Spectrum Council
The Spectrum Council is the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's "support network for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Questioning (LGBQ) cadets."[1]
Diversity Councils
The United States Coast Guard Academy "has six diversity councils supported by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity. Per the Coast Guard Academy’s Strategic Plan to 'Cultivate a Supportive and Inclusive Environment'”, the councils seek to promote a culture of respect that values a broad spectrum of skills and perspectives while ensuring supportive and rewarding learning environments for all."[2]
- Asian Pacific American Council (APAC)
- Compañeros
- Genesis Council
- International Council
- Spectrum Council
- Women’s Leadership Council (WLC)
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Dinner
Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Lisa Starliper speaks to cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Sept. 24, 2012, during a special dinner commemorating the one year anniversary of the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Since the repeal of DADT, the academy has stood up the Spectrum Council, one of six diversity councils under the USCGA Office of Inclusion and Diversity. This cadet-led group promotes the acceptance of LGBQ cadets and education of the corps regarding sexual orientation issues. It was the first group of its kind at a federal service academy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory J. Mendenhall The Spectrum Council.[3]
- "Ensign Chip Hall, who served as co-president of Spectrum during his final year at the Academy (2011-12), authored the original memo to Academy officials seeking its creation.
- “The Superintendent approved a DADT working group and asked that the Spectrum Council be put off until after DADT ended. We worked to advise the Academy on what issues the cadets saw, then resubmitted the memo to create the Council the day after repeal, on Sept. 21, 2011; the Superintendent approved it on Dec. 1,” he recalled.
[...]
- "Academy Superintendent Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz said Spectrum “will allow the Coast Guard Academy and its cadets to broaden their experience and expose them to situations that will help develop them as leaders of character. As ensigns and future service leaders, these cadets will face a rapidly changing world that demands a more inclusive perspective.”
- "Cadet 1st Class John Mack, Spectrum co-president for the current (2012-13) academic year, said their efforts during the Council’s first full year on campus is as much directed at the entire Academy and active Coast Guard as it is to gay and lesbian cadets."
Individuals Mentioned
- Ensign Chip Hall
- Coast Guard Lt. James Couch
- Academy Superintendent Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz
- Cadet 1st Class John Mack
- Coast Guard Cmdr. James Kammel
- Adm. Robert J. Papp
2015 Eclipse Week
This year's theme is "Strength in Diversity, Empowerment Through Inclusion"[4] and guest speakers include:
- Admiral Paul Zukunft, USCG, Commandant of the Coast Guard
- Ms. Kate Fagan, ESPN Broadcaster
- Rear Admiral Joe Vojvodich, USCG, Coast Guard Program Executive Officer and Director of Acquisition Programs
- Rear Admiral Erroll Brown, USCG (Ret.)
Royce W. James
CDR Royce W. James, a member of the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalist[5] serves as an advisor for the Genesis Council & Spectrum Council (Coast Guard Academy’s Black and Gay Student Unions) and the Science Department Diversity & Inclusion Officer.
He was a member of the team that was instrumental in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and more recently worked to facilitate the military's change in policy to allow transgendered persons to openly serve.