The CCQN began in 2006 and is now in its fifth year. Ever since queer departments and young queer voices began emerging on campus there has been a growing sense of unity which has culminated in the current representation of sexuality and diversity for the queer students at our universities. The Cross Campus Queer network is a social, political, academic and representative collective of queer student working towards safety and acceptance. There is now a sense of unity between the campuses and actions toward equality like never before.
The frontier is always changing, whether we are campaigning for a suitable equity space, or joining the rest of the population in the fight for same sex marriage rights. The CCQN is the collaborative body which organises as much as it can for the well being of all things queer and diverse at University campuses. It makes sense to check it out, I mean its run by students for students and we’re getting more organised every day, so look out world!
The year has already started with gayness and excitement thanks to O days. If you are from another planet (and have properly passed the quarantine regulations) and don’t know what O day is, it’s orientation for students who are going to be attending University for the first time… and those of us who are still lost years later. CCQN and the departments have had stalls at each of the universities this year. It’s been really great so far thanks to state NUS (National Union of Students) representatives Rhiahnon Kennedy and Sophie Hesford who have been organising show bags and making sure all the relevant information is there for anyone who might be looking.
The show bags this year were filled with hand coloured newsletters, stickers and information pointing all new students towards safety and acceptance for diverse sexualities and lifestyles on campus. I mean it is not just for queers, it is also for friends and supporters who play a big role in making us active in the politics of student guilds and visible within the population at large. So if you skipped O day and thus aren’t quite sure which way is north, look for your student guilds and ask for the whereabouts of your local Queer Department. It’s going to be a big year, with picnics, the Genderfuck Ball, Queer Camp, movie nights, a new CCQN-zine just to name just a few of the projects the CCQN are diligently working on for your enjoyment. You’ll also find the usual suspects – protests, flash mobs and of course the super hot and sexy queer students who will be there with you! See you in 2010!
Adelaide Knowles
