Clarksville mayor honors retired Austin Peay State University professor during GSA anniversary

Austin Peay State University (APSU)

Clarksville, TN – Forty years ago, Glenn Carter, an Austin Peay State University (APSU) sociology professor, volunteered to serve as the faculty advisor for a new organization, the Student Coalition for Gay Rights. It wasn’t an easy assignment.

That February, the club’s students were told their organization had “no place at Austin Peay State University,” which meant they would not be recognized as an official student group.

Despite this ruling, Carter stayed on as their mentor, shepherding the students through a landmark court case that resulted in the establishment of what is now the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at Austin Peay.

On February 27th, the University celebrated the group’s 40^th anniversary as an official student organization, and during the celebration, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts presented the now retired Carter with a key to the city. Pitts said the gift was “in appreciation of your outstanding contributions, dedication and support of the students at Austin Peay State University and the people of the City of Clarksville. It is my honor to present this to you.”

After the presentation, Carter discussed the Student Coalition for Gay Rights v. Austin Peay State University court case and the influence it had for similar organizations at other colleges and universities. Gender rights advocate Susan Larson then talked about her website, Susan’s Place Transgender Resources, and the evening ended with a student and faculty panel discussing gender and sexuality on campus.

Last week’s celebration coincided with a special exhibit on GSA history in the Woodward Library. For information on the organization, contact Gina Garber, professor of library sciences and GSA co-adviser, at garberg@apsu.edu, or Marcus Hayes, associate professor of dance and GSA co-adviser, at hayesma@apsu.edu.