Campbellsville University’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) abruptly changed leadership recently, prompting the launch of “Kaleidoscope,” a new group led by faculty adviser Charity Powell.
Many CU students were familiar with the CU SAGA Instagram account that launched in February of 2023, and shocked when theaccount recently published the following post:
“Due to changes in cultural climate at CU, SAGA will no longer be an active peer group or meeting formally on campus,’’ followed by a similar post the next day expressing that the page is now private, and the opinions expressed are not an official representation of Campbellsville University or administration. The account changed its username to remove CU affiliation and removed its iconicrainbow paw print.
Dr. Carey Ruiz, the former faculty adviser who managed the account, stated via email on Sept. 10 that she did not feel comfortable continuing to lead a student group on campus at this time.
“All I, many other faculty, and students who are LGBTQ or allies have wanted is for those students who identify as LGBTQ to bewelcomed and allowed to fully participate in campus and church life,” said Ruiz speaking on the group’s new direction.
The university is now moving forward with a new initiative under the name “Kaleidoscope.” The first meeting of Kaleidoscope was scheduled for Sept. 19 in the Student Success and Community House. Dr. Michelle Carter, associate vice president of the Office ofCommunity and Student Success, and Charity Powell (director of First-Generation Scholars and Belonging) are currently working on finalizing logistics. Carter encourages students interested in joining to email Powell ([email protected]) for more information and to attend the upcoming meetings. Students are also encouraged to follow the new Kaleidoscope Instagram account: @tiger_kaleidoscope.
Powell, who has a passion for supporting both first-generation and LGBTQ+ students, described the rebranded group as “even more inclusive” than its predecessor. She said Kaleidoscope will aim to create a supportive environment for a broader range of students, including allies, athletes, the Harrodsburg campus and international students who were not previously involved with SAGA.
According to Powell, Kaleidoscope is committed to creating an environment where all students feel included and valued.
“That’s what Jesus would be doing,” Powell said.
However, some have expressed skepticism, as Campbellsville has not historically been known for supporting LGBTQ+ students.When SAGA began meeting unofficially in 2021, the information was all spread by word of mouth, and the group met with the shades drawn in the “diversity building,” according to Madison Meyer, CU alumna and one of the original founders of SAGA. The group had to battle with CU administration until 2023, when it was officially recognized as a peer group, began to receive funding and was given permission to use the CU name and pawprint, Meyer said.
“If SAGA came down to two words, it would be safety and love,” she said. “It’s about loving like Jesus loves. Jesus had a seat at thetable for these people, and [admin] hadn’t been providing that seat.”
Emmett Rutter, CU alumna, who served as 2021-22 SAGA president, hopes Kaleidoscope supports students the way SAGA did.
“SAGA literally means the world to me,” Rutter said. “It truly breaks my heart that SAGA is being replaced after all the hard workwe’ve put into it… I just hope that the new group is as much of a safe, inclusive and fun space as SAGA was. I just really hope theydo not try to push their theological agenda onto anyone like the rest of campus seems to do. I do want CU students to know that though I am not at CU anymore, or associated with this new group in any way, I am still here and always free to talk to anyone if theyneed someone to talk to. I just want what is best for the students, faculty and staff at CU.”
