History

• GLABA
• Rainbow Connection
• Raincon Revamp
• Advocate (Present Day)

In 2001, amidst struggles in the organization, GLABA changed names to reflect a more diversified focus. The GLBT organization was renamed Rainbow Connection to include all sexual orientations and genders ( http://www.luc.edu/orgs/phoenix/sept26glaba.htm ). However, Erin Green (then co-president) and the rest of her board were not able to keep the tensions from fracturing the group. By February 2002, Jennie Helton assumed the role as President of Rainbow Connection and called for a restructuring of the organization ( http://www.luc.edu/orgs/phoenix/feb27rain.htm ). By the time the restructuring was called, Rainbow Connection's membership was at an all-time low. Less than five members attended meetings and fewer than 100 people were on the email list as of July 2002.

Jennie Helton worked tirelessly in the fall of 2002 to revitalize Rainbow Connection. Along with Amy Ma (treasurer and secretary) and newcomer Joe Earley (who re-established the Safe Space program at Loyola), Jennie raised the number of members past 150 and had an average of 15 members at every weekly meeting. She was successful in bringing Danny from the Real World to be guest speaker at Loyola University Chicago.

In January 2003, Joe Earley and Gerald Farinas became co-presidents of Rainbow Connection. With the Safe Space program re-established, Residence Life required all residence assistants to be certified through Rainbow Connection in Safe Space. Several organizations such as AmeriCorps and DePaul University 's Spectrum Alliance underwent training in Safe Space causing the program to become highly recognized on Loyola's campus. By February, however, Rainbow Connection suffered more difficulties within the executive board and Joe Earley became the sole President.
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Rainbow Connection
In 2001, amidst struggles in the organization, GLABA changed names to reflect a more diversified focus. The GLBT organization was renamed Rainbow Connection to include all sexual orientations and genders ( http://www.luc.edu/orgs/phoenix/sept26glaba.htm ). However, Erin Green (then co-president) and the rest of her board were not able to keep the tensions from fracturing the group. By February 2002, Jennie Helton assumed the role as President of Rainbow Connection and called for a restructuring of the organization ( http://www.luc.edu/orgs/phoenix/feb27rain.htm ). By the time the restructuring was called, Rainbow Connection's membership was at an all-time low. Less than five members attended meetings and fewer than 100 people were on the email list as of July 2002.

Jennie Helton worked tirelessly in the fall of 2002 to revitalize Rainbow Connection. Along with Amy Ma (treasurer and secretary) and newcomer Joe Earley (who re-established the Safe Space program at Loyola), Jennie raised the number of members past 150 and had an average of 15 members at every weekly meeting. She was successful in bringing Danny from the Real World to be guest speaker at Loyola University Chicago.

In January 2003, Joe Earley and Gerald Farinas became co-presidents of Rainbow Connection. With the Safe Space program re-established, Residence Life required all residence assistants to be certified through Rainbow Connection in Safe Space. Several organizations such as AmeriCorps and DePaul University 's Spectrum Alliance underwent training in Safe Space causing the program to become highly recognized on Loyola's campus. By February, however, Rainbow Connection suffered more difficulties within the executive board and Joe Earley became the sole President.

Joe Earley was successful in maintaining the organization and a full executive board but struggled in programming. While the Safe Space program continued to thrive under the direction of Alphonse Derus and Jennie Helton, along with the restructured Support Group under Valerie Malzer and Greg Pritchett, events such as GLBT Awareness Week and securing a speaker were rocky. However, Joe was asked to continue to be president for a second term. In the fall of 2003, Joe Earley changed the Constitution of Rainbow Connection to create vice presidential positions of Support Group and Safe Space. GLBT Awareness Week added the letter "Q" and became the primary efforts of Rainbow Connection with the assistance of the Office of Student Diversity. Under Joe Earley Rainbow Connection received the Program of the Year award and Earley was nominated Leader of the Year.

In the summer of 2004, former president Joe Earley, newly elected president Claire Elizalde , and vice president Al Derus took part in the U.S. Jesuit universities' GLBTQ "IDEA Conference" and presented the Safe Space program.

Claire Elizalde assumed the role of president in 2004 the transfer of Aly Washko . Washko who was originally elected President. Elizalde was elected by the entire executive board as acting president. Under her leadership, Rainbow Connection retained the Safe Space program (which was eagerly sought by the Office of Student Diversity). She also secured Kyan Douglas as the annual speaker ( Kyan Douglas Article ) and the program received rave reviews ( Review Article ).
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Raincon Revamp
Adam Cebulski was elected President of Rainbow Connection in December 2004. During the course of the following Spring semester, Adam worked on the � RainCon Revamp� in an effort to improve the campus image of Rainbow Connection. It was also the goal to move the organization into a more activist/service oriented organization. During the course of the semester Rainbow Connection changed their style of meetings to include more social events so members had more of a chance to bond and create a real community. There were also service opportunities available to the members at Vital Bridges and The Center on Halsted . He was also able to set-up a new week of programming entitled Hate Crime Awareness Week which was very successful ( �First Hate Crime Awareness Week underway� ). The week's events included a concert, a documentary showing and two productions of a student produced version of �The Laramie Project.� (Official Flyer ). To finish off the � RainCon Revamp,� a non-traditional set of elections were held to fill empty officer positions and to vote on a new name to go with the new path of the organization.
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Advocate (Present Day)
On Tuesday, May 3 rd 2005, Rainbow Connection officially became Advocate. The name was put to a general election and shows the organization's new goal of becoming a presence on the campus and improving the GLBTQ environment. The day after the official change, Advocate (pronounced like the verb and not the noun) was able to prove it was on a new path when members of H.O.M.E. came to the campus to distribute their anti-gay flyers. Over 40 students were gathered to rally against them with much support from faculty, staff, and administration. Some of the new programs slated to begin the following fall were: GLBTQ First Year Mentoring, a scholarship program, and a Resource Center .

During the summer of 2005, Adam Cebulski, Scott Lane, Max Bever, and Claire Elizalde attended the IFA Conference (2nd Annual GLBTQ Conference for Jesuit Colleges and Universities). Upon returning in the fall to a new class and a new board Advocate boomed. Regular attendance at meetings and social events was 25-40 people. Attention was garnered for Advocate being named NRHH's organization of the month for October for GLBTQ Awareness Week. Advocate lost a bit of steam towards the end of second semester with half of the executive board gearing up for graduation.

On June 29th, 2006, Adam Cebulski, Max Bever, Travis Warford, and newcomer Abby Ries attended the Change Conference (3rd Annual GLBTQ Conference for Jesuit Colleges and Universities). On the way to the fall semester the future of Advocate looks bright as the board will be bringing out new ideas and events to continue, and raise, student interest in the group.