A roundtable discussion on bullying gathered students from Christian and LGBT campus organizations Thursday night as part of "Bridging the Gap."
"Tonight is about respect and building relationships with two different communities," said Jenika Garetson, Spectrum president.
Junior Cory Ahlersmeyer, a peer minister at Grace Village, came to show support for Spectrum.
"Our group has come out and said we support the gay community," he said.
The focus began on Mentor High School in Cleveland, where three teens committed suicide due to bullying. Each table had its own discussion on the topic, focusing on discussion questions.
One question was, "Have you or anyone you know ever been a victim of bullying?" In high school, sophomore Tristen Comegys came out and was ridiculed at school for it. Girls wrote on the bathroom stalls "Tristen is a dyke."
"I'm gay, that's fine," she said of her reaction. "I'm going to face more discrimination in my lifetime."
Although participants were able to find common ground on bullying issues, Ahlersmeyer said if someone gay and someone straight sit down, it always goes back to religion, and the Christian will pull out scripture.
"People use the Bible as a weapon of hate, which is not what it is," he said.
Cyber bullying was another issue discussed. No longer are children only ridiculed at school, they also come home and find it on social media sites. At Ball State, many participants agreed that it is largely unseen.
Participants said the roundtable discussion as a success.
"It was really effective," Comegys said. "It brought the right people together to make the difference."
"It brought two communities together that society thinks can't coexist and sit down and exchange ideas," Ahlersmeyer said.
Spectrum president Jenika Garetson was happy with the success of the event.
"We didn't come to specifically talk about gays and Christian issues but to build respect, friendships and communities," Garetson said.
Garetson said she hopes to have one or two "Bridging the Gap" discussions each semester.
A college in California has to house its discussion forum in a building the size of John R. Emens Auditorium. Garetson said she wants to see that large of a turnout at Ball State in the future.
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