Columbia’s ‘It Gets Better’ video
This week, Columbia gives its own take on the popular “It Gets Better” project. The project was founded by Dan Savage and his husband, Terry Miller, in September of 2010—just days before Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who had been spied on by his roommate while kissing another man, took his own life in New York City.
This video, which first appeared as an idea last October, features interviews with students, faculty, and prominent administrators, such as Kevin Shollenberger (Dean of Student Affairs) and Peter Awn (Dean of General Studies). Check it out below.
Ben Harris (CC ’14), who spearheaded the project here at Columbia, says of the short film, ”There were far too many stories at Columbia to possibly include in one video — a testament to the strength and outspoken nature of the LGBT community on campus. Because of that, this video includes just a small swath of people on campus. My hope, however, is that it will send the message that this campus supports LGBT teenagers nation-wide, and recognizes the importance of higher education in making those lives better.”
Thanks to Ben, Ericka Beltran (BC ’12), Claire Pope (CC ’14), and Mae Smith (CC ’14), for helping create this video and bringing these touching stories to our attention.
This is amazing! Great job to all involved!
beautiful, you guys!
this is absolutely fantastic. i’m so proud of the people that made this video. i love you all!
Bravo – I am an OUT person living with AIDS on campus. Thank you for doing this. I just wish I had a voice in it, too. But I am warmed by seeing it, and by seeing the Dean of my School participate so beautifully and eloquently. Thanks.
Hey thanks for writing this. YOU should have been in the video, you know?
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Ben Harris is amazing.
What was the selection criteria for the students highlighted in the film?
This made me so happy.
Powerful
a sanitized version of what it means to be LGBT at Columbia.
It is a sin. Homosexuals need to realize that what they are doing, what they feel the desire to do, is wrong.
kiss me, you fool!
hey man – i like the name you submitted your comment under. shows you have the courage of your convictions. way to go, jerk face.
oops…. that was supposed to be a reply to “…” – guess passion (and my sinful ways) got in the way!
this made me cry. so so beautiful. thank you to everyone who made this!
Love the sentiment but agree that bad experiences should have been mentioned; ignoring them feels disingenuous. The point should be that the good experiences/help outweighed the bad and that helped it get better – it didn’t just happen. Also wish there was something like this for other marginalized communities. I feel like the Latino community is largely ignored by the administration. Efforts to foster community and develop individuals in the context of the issues we face are entirely student driven and make me believe the administration doesn’t care for us at all.