MC 2010 Shelledy

Robert L. Lancon
2/18/14

Melanie Stapleton had trouble adjusting to her diversity when she came to LSU.
Melanie, an openly transgender woman, said that she was unconsciously given a label
by others her freshman year and did not have a support system until she found an LGBT
resource in Spectrum.
Spectrum is one of the many groups at LSU that offers support services based upon
students diversities. Panelist from several of these groups joined Melanie at an event put on by
LSUs Public Relations Student Society of America on Tuesday.
Shaely Cheramie , founder of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Club at LSU, told the
audience of over fifty that the most difficult obstacle she faced was learning to accept herself, I
just kept pushing things under the rug, because there was nobody else here with my struggle.
Stapleton feels that accepting ones diversities is the first step of the process; the
second is finding role models for diversity. Cheramie said her parents were her role models.
They would not let me define myself by my disability, I had to accept myself in order to
pursue my dreams she said.
Role models for diversity have been hard to come by, but Stapleton is optimistic about
the future. She identified Netflix star Laverne Cox, a transsexual woman, as one such role
model.
Panel organizer Malena Moreau has always called her sister, a cerebral palsy patient, an
example. Malena hoped that Tuesdays event would spark discussion about celebrating
individuals diversity like her sister does.
Panelist had mixed views as to the state of diversity in Louisiana, but they all agreed that
LSU is certainly diverse and is trying. Stapleton has since been able to accept herself and
now serves as Spectrum president where she feels she can be a tool for change.