Though many organizations have been successful in their bid to recruit new students, this fall Queer Union (QU) attracted far more students than in previous years. Ninety students attended the group’s first meeting on Sept. 10.

The QU, which normally has a membership of around ten students, not only saw a plethora of new first-years at its first meeting, but a handful of new upperclassmen as well. As co-chair Megan Bayles ’05 noted at the organization's second meeting, the turnout has been "unprecedented."

"It's just part of the changing face of Macalester and of the Queer Union,” returning QU member Mikey McNamara ’05 said. “In the past, the QU has served as more of a GLBT hangout. This year, anyone with a vested interest can come and bring up issues and find resources.”

Bayles believes the newfound popularity of QU is due in part to the growth of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in high schools. “GSAs are becoming very popular, and it's very cool now to be in a GSA. So the QU this year has a lot of allies (non-homosexual supporters), which we haven't had before,” she said.

Bayles said that a number of students returned from studying abroad this semester.

She also attributed this year’s growth to the success of QU events held last spring.

Those spring events included a visit from Sandi Dubowski, the director of the film Trembling Before God, and a lecture by transgender activist Kate Bornstein.

Last year’s Queer Cabaret is scheduled for an encore this year, as well as the faculty and staff potluck.

Leaders hope that the new, larger membership will enable the QU to tackle some old and new issues that concern GLBT students, such as the possibility of gender-blind housing and gaining additional health and sexuality resources at Winton Health Services.

As for the structure of the new QU, Bayles is still uncertain how or where the QU will hold its meetings for the rest of the year. Rather than forming committees, students will be encouraged to volunteer for the activities they are interested in.

"The group this year will be more of a political organization that comes together socially, rather than vice versa," Bayles said.

Although Bayles said that she anticipates the size of the QU to fluctuate in the coming months, she expressed excitement about the growing popularity of the organization.

"The QU is really a bottom-up organization.” McNamara said. “The ideas come from students...we're really seeing positive results come from that."