CONWAY, Ark. — A group gathered on the UCA campus for a public conversation in support of the LGBT community on Tuesday evening.
Dozens of students, faculty, and community members attended Unity at UCA, which was organized in response to a controversial order by UCA's president to remove a message posted outside Torreyson Library celebrating pride month.
The quote from Lady Gaga posted on an outdoor letterboard read: "Being gay is like glitter, it never goes away."
Organizers of Wednesday night's event said university administration's directive to remove the quote has been hurtful to members of the LGBT community.
Danielle Kraus, who works the front desk at UCA's Torreyson Library, took the podium during Unity at UCA.
"I bet all of you are familiar with my work," she said.
Her daily responsibilities include coming up with messages to post on the sign outside the library, including the one that was removed.
"I remember coming back from lunch and one of my supervisors pulling me aside and saying, 'hey, while you were at lunch we got word this has to be taken down,'" Kraus said.
A demand, she said, brought her to tears.
"I didn't know how to handle this."
Kraus and her colleagues from the library were among those who spoke during Tuesday's event organized by UCA Feminist Union and PRISM alliance.
"And just the outpouring of love and support has been amazing, this community has been amazing," Kraus said.
Unity at UCA was the idea of student Bryttani Bartlett.
"My goal is for people to know they have advocates and allies here at UCA," said Bryttani Bartlett, an organizer of the event.
Bartlett plans to establish a coalition of student organizations to address inclusion with university administration.
"Even though everything looks kind of bad right now, and people are hurt and upset, we're only moving up from here," Bartlett said. "We're working really hard with the administration and organizations to make sure that people feel included and they know this is an inclusive place."
In the time that has passed since UCA President Houston Davis ordered the message come down, he's worked to reassure students and faculty the university cares about the LGBT community.
On Tuesday, he held a dialogue with concerned members of the campus community. A university spokesperson called the meeting "positive" and "productive."
Click here to read a statement released by Davis following the sign's removal.