New Face on Campus: Michael Hartwyk settles in as the new Community Coordinator of the LGBTU. (photo by Tom Shortliffe)

After securing a degree in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania last May, Hartwyk made an immediate leap from his native urban university to the smaller artistic community of Oberlin College. “The culture in terms of the queer community is very different,” Hartwyk said. “Students are very involved…It’s refreshing to find people who are interested.” In contrast to the frequently conservative, apathetic environment that he feels one finds in larger schools, here “there’s a lot more idealism and willingness to participate.”
Another big change for Hartwyk is that he no longer has the role of a student organizer, simply asking authority for money to fund projects and proposing ideas to the figure in charge. “It’s very different being on the administrative side,” he said, “where I’m that person.”
His goal at Oberlin is to “make sure that [students’] needs are provided for…in a way that’s professional instead of being personally involved.” For Hartwyk, someone used to being personally active in his causes, that requires a big adjustment. But, being new to the Oberlin community makes it “easier to keep those roles separate.” At the same time, Hartwyk said, “I hope that students feel comfortable coming to me and talking about [their experiences].”

This year, LGBTU sponsored events include National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 and World AIDS day, which will occur in December. Then, of course, there’s Pride Week and the ever-popular Student Union-sponsored Drag Ball, both after Spring Break. “Even the fact that dressing in drag is a huge campus event is exciting,” Hartwyk said. He’s pleased students realize “exploring…and dealing with identity is a very positive experience.”

There’s also a film series this year, a schedule of speakers and performing artists and the usual fare of conferences and student-led activities. Hartwyk himself is currently enrolled in a film course.

From an environment where there were few queer studies courses and fewer opportunities for students to exercise their identities as lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual, Hartwyk is happy with the comparative variety of course offerings, events and room for growth at this campus. He looks forward to his years at Oberlin, not to mention getting his feet wet in a new job. “I get to do what I like to do…and get paid for it,” Hartwyk said.

Who could ask for more? Well, administration allowing, Hartwyk might one day add “professor” to his credentials. “I would love to teach a course,” he said. However, there are no definite plans to add him to the faculty at this time.