Image courtesy of Emma Wonsil 

On the evening of Tuesday, March 14, 2017,  many of us protested the showing of “The Desire of the Everlasting Hills” by walking out at the nine minute and 20 second mark of the film. This represents the 92% of LGBTQ youth that, according to the Human Rights Campaign, hear negative messages about their sexual or gender identity from their school, the media or their peers.

We appreciate the stories and trials of the individuals in this documentary. However, we do not appreciate a documentary that seeks to showcase only homosexual individuals in failed relationships, leading promiscuous lives or lives filled with intense shame. By showing this film, despite intense student and alumni concern, we believe that Aquinas has neglected the narrative of many LGBTQ community members, as it expresses that LGBTQ identities and any kind of spiritual life as mutually exclusive.

We validate the experiences of all our LGBTQ siblings regardless of their religious or spiritual practices, and whether they decide to live chaste lives or not. Instead of observing a presentation of what we believe to be a narrow presentation of the LGBTQ narrative, those of us who walked out chose to spend our night in joyful community.

We, the undersigned, urge the Aquinas College administration to make a public statement acknowledging that the LGBTQ population has been, and will continue to be, an integral part of our community, and that it is unacceptable to use the Catholic tradition as a tool for discrimination against them. We request that the Speaker & Events Committee add a permanent staff or faculty member who is a part of the LGBTQ community. We also request that the committee review all events concerning the LGBTQ community and do so with the utmost respect that our Dominican Catholic tradition calls for.

Emma Wonsil, Senior

Ali Barr, Senior

Erin Dwan, Freshman

Lena Peak, Junior

Gabrielle VandenBerg, Junior

Michael Mumper II, Senior

Byron Janisse, Senior

Margaret Conroy, Junior

Dana Van Huis, Sophomore

Maria Maguire, Sophomore

Joseph Volpe, Sophomore

Laurel Timmer, Freshman

Hannah Lashbrook, Freshman

Lauren Gerich, Sophomore

Adrianna Triche, Junior

Kelsey Cotton, Senior

Natalie C. Smith, Senior

Morgan Hannah, Junior

Summer Hutson, Senior

Marielena Huerta, Junior

Francesca Prina, Sophomore

Nicholas Gregory, Senior

Alex Karatkiewicz, Senior

Morgan Bengel, Senior

Casey Dickerson, Senior

Kascha Sanor, Senior

Piper Nugent, Freshman

Hal Swain, Junior

Kaelyn Benzin, Sophomore

Nicole Roberts, Sophomore

Emily Brink, Sophomore

Avery Wagner, Senior

Marissa Ebels, Sophomore

Allison Garstecki, Fifth Year

Noah James Kellogg, Junior

Veronica Burns, Senior

Emily Cipriano, Freshman

Sara Gehan, Senior

Kati Doering, Junior

Sarah Cross, Sophomore

Jessica Zarik, Senior

Claire Krohn, Alumna ‘16

Charles Rollins, Sophomore

Nora Botello, Junior

John Schaak, Senior

Elizabeth Sensing, Alumna ’16

Jessa Challa, Senior

Paulina Pei, Senior

Jordan Jacobs, Junior

Mackenzie Murphy, Junior 

Megan Skinner, Fifth Year

Miranda Burel, Fifth Year

Cecilia Kellogg, Alumna ’16

Jennifer McCullen, Junior

Katharine Reed, Junior

Tyler Wayne Clark, Alumnus ‘15

Emma Roderick, Alumna ’16

Erin Lodes, Alumna ‘13

Noelle Gauss, Sophomore

Brenda Tamez, Senior

Connor Dirksen, Alumnus ’16

Dakota Bunn, Alumnus ’15

Anne Vanderson, Senior

Kenneth Ford Jr, Alumnus ’15

Jennifer Kalchik, Alumna ’14

Lindsey Bacigal, Senior

Brandon Lawson, Alumnus ’15

Nina Kirkpatrick, Alumna ’16

Kelsey Wallace (Morath), Alumna ’16

Jack Farrell, Junior

Ramil Collier, Alumnus ‘16

Kirsten Fedorowicz, Sophomore

Brianne Czyzio, Senior

Courtney Burnett, Alumna ‘16

Paul Sherwood, Senior

Molly O’Connor, Alumna ‘14

Rebecca Carey, Alumna ‘15

Makayla Putnam, Alumna ‘16

Antoniya Wedge, Junior

Janine O’Donnell, Alumna ‘13

Jessica Brandreth, Alumna ‘13

Stephanie Beld, Alumna ‘13

Erin Meyer, Alumna ‘12

Lukas Isenga, Sophomore

Brenna Cojeen, Senior

Jayme Brizzolara, Senior

Alex Kennedy, Senior

Hillary Leman, Alumna ’15

Mariah Perkins, Alum ’15

Neal Steichen, Alumnus ‘14

Cassandra Anouthay, Alumna ’16

Evan Hile, Junior

James Gulvas, Alumnus ‘11

Rob Abid, Alum ‘12

Amanda Vanderplow, Alumna ’14

Callin Cherry, Alumna ’16

Caroline Cook, Junior

Jacob Towne, Senior

Jessica Parry, Senior

Kathryn St. John, Junior

Ashley Gonzales, Junior

Zachary John Stepanovich, Alumnus ’15

Tara Lappley, Alumna ‘12

Marissa Kunkel, Alumna ’15

Troy Dildine, Alumnus, 2016

Audrey Hannah, Freshman

Molly Huth, Alumna ‘14

Claire Chiodo, Alumna ‘13

Hillary Leman, Alumna ‘15

Mary Webster, Senior

Elicia Allen, Alumna ‘15

K. Shaffer, Sophomore

Cassandra Cohen, Alum ‘13

Victoria (Mundwiler) Payne, Alumna ‘13

Jonathan Buck, Junior

Emily Cipriano, Freshman

Mollie Lindeman, Alumna ‘16

Sara Sanders, Alumna ‘12

Jenna Scheele, Alumna ‘15

Mariah Cowsert, Junior

Emily Hall, Alumna ‘14

Amanda Avella, Alumna ‘16

Kaitlyn (Meernik) Malaski, Alumna ‘10

Kyle Tomczyk, Alumnus ’12

Hannah Frank, Alumna ‘16

Nolan Smith, Alumnus, ‘14

Emily Clements, Alumna, ‘15

Ellyse VanderKamp, Alumna ‘16

Stephanie Bott, Alumna, ‘16

Shayla Fitzgerald, Alumna, ‘14

Azra Fazil, 5th Year

Sean Briggs, Alumnus ’14

Libby Speigl, Alum ’16

Kendall Clair, Alumna ‘15

Aimee Shemanski, Alumna ‘15

Karen Havens, Alum, ‘14

Kellie Rams, Alumna ’14

Shelby Denhof, Alumna, ‘14

Kia Gardner, Freshman

Bailey Watson, Senior

Emily Blakowski, Alumna, ‘15

Connor Dirksen, Alumnus ‘16

Callin Cherry, Alumna ‘16

Kasey E. Baker, Alumna ’09

Mariel Borgman, Alumna ‘09

Carly Plank, Alumna ‘13

Becca Mantei, Alumna ‘16

Daryl Esese, Sophomore

Hayley Chase, Alumna ’12

Meredith Tomich, Junior

Brooke McElhaney, Junior

Shawn Wanhala, Alumnus ‘09

Becky Brown, Alumna ‘09

Joseph Skorka, Alumnus ‘15

Devin Lea, Alum ’12

Johanna Kessel, Alumna ‘10

Sarah Parlette, Alumna ’15

Adriana Facundo, Alumna ‘12

Becca Galarneau, Senior

Samantha Toft, Alumna, ‘15

Ann Gorkowski, Alumna ‘91

Lisa Zimmerman, Alumna ‘12

Emily Ambs, Alumna ‘16

Daniel Foley, Alumnus, ‘14

Stephanie Workman, Junior

Danielle Smith, Junior

Michaela Rango, Alumna, ‘13

Emma Brick, Alumna ‘15

Sara Scott, Alumna ‘16

Lauren Villaluz, Alumna ‘10

Clare Naughton, Alumna ‘16

Ann Hardin, Senior

Lane Hokanson, Alumna ’15

Nicholas Whise, Alumnus ‘16

Emma Ramirez, Alumna ‘15

Megan Byrne, Alumna ’12

Ashley Gonzales, Junior

Olivia Hoffman, Junior

Kayla Lewis, Alumna ‘12

Wendy Olson 2006

Abigail Koprowicz, Alumna ‘13

Katelyn Herrygers, Alumna ‘12

Karin Nelson, Alumna ‘15

Zack Isaacs, Sophomore

Alyssa Moritz, Senior

Dan Scheid, Alumnus ‘90

Malory Maletic, Senior

Monelle Bradshaw, Alumna ’14

Michelle Robinson, Alumna ‘14

Emma Antel, Junior

Kyle Hibbard, Junior

Sarah Ellis, Alumna ‘05

Alexis Cortes, Senior

Hannah Precup, Alumna ‘10

Frederica Summer Hutson, Junior

Zoë Gipson, Alumna ‘16

Sarah Ewing, Alumna ‘13

Emily Alt, Alumna, ‘09

Alexis Johnson, Alumna ‘15

Gabrielle VandenBerg, Junior

Erica Utter, Alumna ‘16

Josh Theil, Alumnus ’12

Sydney Watson, Previous Student

Katelyn S Brinklow, Alumna ‘16

Mackenzie Glaros, Alumna ’15

Abigale Racine, Alumna ’16

Mose Brown, Senior

Connor Manion, Previous Student

Hilary Atkin, Alumna ‘07

Holly Deremo, Alumna ‘10

Samantha Schueneman, Freshman

Melena Hogan, Senior

Alison Friar, Alumna ‘16

Sarah K. Craig, Senior

Tabitha Maloley, Alumna ‘16

Nadija Kadunic, Alumna ‘16

Rachel Foley, Alumna ‘13

Marika Rietsema, Alumna ‘14

Kelly Roth Alumna ‘14

Brenna Cojeen, Senior

Rachel Walendzik, Alumna ’14

Kathleen Nystrom, Previous Student

Morgan Terbovich, Junior

Connor Wales, Freshman

Bailey Gulch, Sophomore

Janie Noah, Sophomore

Katelyn Singer, Alumna ‘12

Elizabeth Hathaway, Junior

Taylor Pryde, Alumna ‘16

Julia Glynn, Junior

Christian Brink, Freshman

Dominique Tomlin, Junior

Jarrod J. Irwin, Alumnus ‘13

Riley Barnett, Sophomore

Hannah Busch, Junior

Janet Wyllie, Alumna ‘91

Darcy Vines, Alum ‘16

Travis DeHaan, Senior

Julian Kratochvil, Alumnus ’11

Eric Han, Senior

Samuel Johnson, Alumnus ‘11

Tanner Kosten, Junior

Samantha Tefft, Alumna ‘14

Thomas Sanchez, Senior

Piper Nugent, Freshman

Stephanie Zimmerman, Sophomore

Jessica Parry, Senior

Julia Glynn, Junior

Tyrell Tolliver, Senior

Marissa Peak, Alumna ‘14

Danira Stanojevic, Sophomore

Erin Ball, Senior

Taylor Wyatt-Knowlton, Alumna ‘16

Benjamin Avery, Senior

Hannah Jablonski, Senior

Sean Rohen, Junior

Taylor Nefcy, Alumna ‘15

Anna Kenny, Senior

Walter Tomlin, Freshman

Brigid Lynch, Alumna ‘16

Grant Kammer, Senior

Erin Miller-Batenburg, Alumna ‘13

Greta Baragar, Junior

Marissa Mason, Senior

Elle S., Alumna ‘15

Taylor Stevens, Junior

Laura Coppolino Navish, Alumna ’08

Micki Martin, Junior

Katrina Danko, Alumna ‘15

Cheyenne Adams, Alumna ’16

Emily Umstead, Senior

Ashley Bolek, Junior

Kelsey Carpenter, Alumna ’14

Emily Stark, Senior

Faelen Whitney, Junior

Brooke DeBaar, Senior

Rachel Varley, Alumna ‘14

Cheyenne Barnard, Freshman

Malynne Klawiter, Junior

Karlee Robinson, Junior

Erin Drouillard, Junior

Esme Misiak, Sophomore

Kendra McInerney, Junior

Morgan Amick, Senior

Sharon Dickerson, Alumna ‘84

Katie Haan, Junior

Andrea Levey, Alumna ‘13

Tera Fowler-Bartman, Alumna ‘11

Marissa Mason, Senior

Chucky Blackmore, Fifth Year

Jill Gryniewicz Tomich, Alumna ‘90

Sidney Veneklase, Sophomore

Dakota Neff, Alumnus ’16

Brittany Sanchez-Reed, Alumna ‘11

Christina Gonzalez, Sophomore

Latharia Smith, Freshman

Emily Stark, Senior

Brooklyn Waggoner, Freshman

Holly Mathews, Alumna ‘16

Natasha Centeno, Junior

Beth Radecki, Alumna ‘10

Jessica Challa, Senior

Juliette Rickel, Freshman

Emily Roth, Freshman

Caleb Jenkins, Senior

Clayton McNamara, Senior

Emily McAfee, Alumna ’14

Sydney Metty, Senior

Brian Reinhardt, Alumnus ‘05

Eva Bórquez, Alumna ‘15

Gretchen Holtgrefe, Alumna ’12

Catherine Pearce, Alumna ’83

Samantha Johnson, Alumna ‘10

Carey Mayhew-Sleight, Alumna ‘13

Samantha Fogus, Alumna ’15

Brianna Dalton, Senior

Tracy Byrne, Alumna ‘07

Morgan Price, Alumna ‘14

Sarah Chalup, Alumna ‘11

Tracy Byrne, Alumna ‘07

Karissa Lantz, Sophomore

Elizabeth Voet, Alumna ‘13

Brett Thatcher, Alumnus ‘08

Veronica Bustoz, Alumna ’15

Lyndsay Volpe-Bertram, Alumna ‘04

Maureen Schoen Abid, Alumna ’77

Jacob Ringer, Senior

Emily Lown, Senior

Sydney Metty, Senior

Katherine Kozal, Senior

Chris Skurka, Alumnus ‘15

Becky Kurkowski, Junior

Becca Galarneau, Senior

Suzanne Click, Alumna ‘11

Hannah Zeller, Alumna ‘14

Katherine Durham, Alumna ‘15

Jacob Sabourin, Alumnus ‘15

Peter Triezenberg, Alumnus ‘16

John Kroondyk, Alumnus ’08

Nina Kirkpatrick, Alumna ‘16

Alexa Carey, Alumna ’09

Shelby Sheets, Alumna ’15

Devin Boxey, Freshman

Ben Georgoff, Previous Student

Zoe Harmon, Alumna ‘16

Maggie Anderson, Freshman

Yasmeen Ahmed, Alumna ‘15

Taylor Lonergan, Sophomore

Haleigh Fairbanks, Senior

Carlos Hernandez, Senior

Cynthia Ekdom, Junior

Celia Perez, Alumna ‘13

Kaitlyn Forsyth, Sophomore

Lauren Falkenstein, Freshman

Kaitlyn Pina, Junior

Jamie Lynn Satkowski, Alumna ‘11

Carley Woolcott, Alumna ‘16

Nina D. Diklich, Alumna, ‘16

Austin Luker, Sophomore

Madison Smith, Junior

Kelsey Hall, Freshman

Maria Moon, Senior

*Editor’s note: Names signed below were added on March 17, per the request of the signatories,  after the initial publication of this document on March 15: 

Bethanie Brands, Senior 

Conor Ellis, Sophomore

Kaileigh Baia, Sophomore

Alex Banash, Alumna ‘16

Ben Plackowski, Sophomore 

Corey Willette, Alumna ‘16

Patricia Schlutt, Senior

Chucky Blackmore, Senior 

Brooke Bruce, Alumna ‘14

Rachel Czuprenski, Alumna ‘16