As part of Ally Week, more than 50 students crammed into a classroom in Murphey Hall as the four student body president candidates sought the endorsement of the GLBT-SA Feb. 1. Moderated by former GLBT-SA Treasurer Tommy Rimbach, students asked candidates questions to determine their dedication to the LBGTIQ community on campus. Participants were asked to avoid national LGBTIQ issues and to limit questions to those specifically relevant to campus LGBTIQ life. Topics ranged from candidates’ opinions on how to handle homophobia in the classroom to the alleged record of queer-unfriendliness against Aramark, the campus dining management provider.

Another pressing question was whether candidates would require their cabinet to be trained as Safe Zone allies. Candidate Seth Dearmin, along with 12 of his campaign staffers, had become Safe Zone certified the night before – skipping the College Republicans SBP Forum to do so.

“As a result of being Safe Zone trained and having members of my campaign team Safe Zone trained as well, I see the need to make sure that more students, faculty and staff are aware of and a part of this program,” said Dearmin.

Several GLBT-SA members felt that this action, more than any other candidates’, represented why Dearmin should have received the GLBT-SA endorsement.

“Seth Dearmin is the most genuine candidate,” said senior John Hairston. “He proved his dedication to the LGBTIQ community by forgoing the Young Repulicans forum for ally training.”

Seke Ballard was the only other Safe Zone certified candidate, having participated in the program his first year at the University. While neither Leigha Blackwell nor Tom Jensen had participated in a Safe Zone training, both expressed interest in doing so.

“Although Jensen was not Safe Zone trained at the time of the debate, he nevertheless hoped to encourage not only student government members but all student organizational leaders to participate in the program,” said Rimbach.

Blackwell was the only candidate who said she would not require the entirety of her cabinet to become trained.

As more and more campus LGBTIQ issues surfaced throughout the forum, observers learned that most students came to favor Jensen’s lengthy experience working within the LGBTIQ community.

“Tom Jensen strongly advocated for transgender issues, which are often ignored on the UNC campus,” explained Rimbach after the endorsement. “As a candidate, he was most supportive of our efforts to include gender identity and gender expression in our University’s nondiscrimination policy, as well as to designate gender-neutral bathrooms in campus classroom buildings and residence halls.”

It became clear by the end of the forum that votes were split between Jensen and Dearmin.

“Specifically in terms of a pro-LGBT platform, I thought that Tom was the clear leader,” said sophomore Patrick Lyons. “However, in terms of the best candidate overall, I felt that Dearmin possessed the best qualities for a student body president.”

A majority vote of those present at the forum went to Jensen, earning him the official endorsement of the GLBT-SA.

In addition to being an active member in the Gay-Straight Alliance throughout his high school career, Jensen spent last summer working to reelect Chris Kolb, an openly gay Michigan state senator. Rimbach said that GLBT-SA members recognized Jensen’s experience and background in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues based upon this dedication.

Others felt that Jensen won the endorsement with his response to a question about last semester’s “Flaunt Your Sexuality Kiss-In.” The first to offer his opinions on the Committee for a Queerer Carolina’s event, Jensen expressed his approval by offering to kiss a person of the same gender if a similar event were to occur. Dearmin suggested that he would kiss Jensen should the opportunity present itself at the next Kiss-In. Both received personal invitations to the Feb. 14 Kiss-In, held one day before the run-off election between Ballard and Dearmin.

In the run-off, Dearmin topped Ballard by a 3.2 percent margin, earning him the title of student body president for the 2005-2006 school year.

“I’m looking forward to working with the LGBTQ community to identify areas of particular interest that are in need of change,” said Dearmin after his win. “We all have to work together to ensure that every student feels comfortable at UNC.”