Gay-Rights Group Finds Itself at Center of Stormy Campus Debate : Activism: Attitudes toward homosexuals are examined at Cal State Northridge.

Two weeks ago, they were involved in a fledgling campus gay-rights group with a name, SQUISH, as likely to prompt giggles as serious debate.

But today, the 60 members of Strong Queers United In Stopping Heterosexism find themselves at the center of a stormy debate at Cal State Northridge that has provoked emotional demonstrations, angry confrontations and threats of violence and death.

In addition, questions have been raised about attitudes toward gays and lesbians at the 30,441-student university.

SQUISH members and their backers say they are trying to gain basic human rights by fighting what they call “heterosexism,” the belief that only heterosexuals are whole, legitimate people.

But some of their peers have objected to SQUISH’s message, claiming that homosexuality is “unnatural and evil.” Others have denounced the group’s confrontational tactics.

In just two months of existence, SQUISH members have staged a “kiss-in” that attracted about 500 onlookers, spearheaded an effort to recall a student senator with whom they disagreed and covered a campus billboard with controversial messages such as “. . .I thought all straight men were rapists” to show the dangers of stereotyping.

SQUISH organizers said they never intended for their group to work quietly in the background. Four students started the organization because they said the community needed to make political statements that the 19-year-old Lesbian and Gay Alliance was not prepared to do. The alliance, which has between 50 and 75 members, serves as a social and support group.

“I don’t believe that if lesbian and gay rights are going to change, that a low profile is the way to do it,” said SQUISH co-founder Michael Blackie, a 28-year-old English major. “I believe we need to be more vocal and in their face with issues.”

“A reality slap, I think, is really important,” he added.

But many SQUISH members said they did not anticipate the violent reactions against the group.

On Oct. 19, campus police discovered anonymous flyers that offered free baseball bats for a “gay bashing and clubbing night” to be held a week later. “Squish the SQUISH,” the computer-printed message urged. “Smear the queer.”

A bitter confrontation surfaced the following week when two students spat on chalk outlines of bodies that SQUISH members had drawn during a “die-in” on campus to remind students that deaths could result from the violence encouraged by the flyers.

Seven days after the first flyers appeared, crudely drawn leaflets calling for attacks against homosexuals were discovered on campus. More flyers, this time with a biblical message, were found last week and may be related to past leaflets, police said.

In addition, SQUISH co-founder Mat Rodieck, 25, said he received a death threat from an anonymous phone caller.

Many members say they are fearful of attack and are trying to take as many safety precautions as possible.

“None of us is ever going to walk alone on campus again,” said SQUISH member Paul, a 26-year-old CSUN graduate who asked that his last name not be used for safety reasons. “We’re being realistic.”

The group spent its last weekly meeting talking with a psychologist about their fears and the emotional stress they have been under, said Catherine, a heterosexual member of SQUISH who also asked that her last name be withheld.

Some members said they felt a need to take a break from the whirlwind of events that the group orchestrated after the first flyers were found. SQUISH members appeared on at least six television news programs and four radio stations.

“All our grades are suffering, my grades are suffering,” said group co-founder Desiree Dreeuws.

However, she and other group members adamantly said they are not in retreat. “I’m not going to disappear, I’m not going away and I’m not going back in the closet,” Rodieck said. “Those are three things people on campus will have to face.”

While the group’s goals and tactics are being debated, so is the question of homophobia on campus.

When the first anti-gay flyers appeared, Mayor Tom Bradley wrote a letter to university President James W. Cleary offering the help of the city Human Relations Commission “to plan for ways to improve the intergroup climate on your campus.”

But Tom Piernik, who described himself as an openly gay administrator, said that while heterosexism exists on campus it is no more pervasive than in society.

“I think it’s important to keep the context that any university is operating in a culture and unfortunately right now the culture of the U. S. is one that is sexist and heterosexist,” he said. “CSUN as an institution mirrors those negative aspects of our culture.”

Dean of Students Fred Strache said he believes that the campus is probably less homophobic than society as a whole. The school has worked to increase sensitivity toward various groups through programs such as student-performed skits that address homophobia, racism and sexism during freshman orientation, he said.

And, he said, SQUISH’s actions have brought a new awareness to campus. “In some ways I think some would say we’ve got parallels of the gay and lesbian community that are figuratively moving to the front of the bus.”

Robert Birch, 44, a member of ACT-UP, a gay-rights group with branches around the country, said he was encouraged by the discussions on campus.

“During the Vietnam War, Cal State Northridge was a hotbed of activity,” Birch said. “The slumbering giant has awakened again. Those of us who are stepchildren of the ‘60s are once again excited about social justice.”

Some students, such as junior Kimberley Orchid, 21, have supported SQUISH’s expressions.

“It’s great,” she said as she watched the die-in. “They should express their opinions.”

But one member of the gay and lesbian community said she believes in some of SQUISH’s messages but is not comfortable with the group’s tactics.

“You need to be able to talk about it, not just say, ‘Hey, you’re homophobic, get over it,’ and that’s what I feel is being done,” said Mickie Allen, 25, a co-director of the Lesbian and Gay Alliance.

“I’m concerned that it’s going to bring more negativity toward the community,” she said.

Another student said that SQUISH’s use of the expression “heterosexism” has alienated some people on campus.

“People thought they wanted to end being heterosexual,” said Matt Jordan, a 20-year-old sophomore majoring in sociology. “That scared a lot of people, including me.”