"Despite the visible presence of lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and queer (lbgtq) students, staff, faculty, and alums on campus, and in Ithaca, the majority of the Cornell community remains complacent about the oppression of the university's lbgtq populations. Furthermore, the apathetic response of this majority to the oppression of the lbgtq populations on the basis of actual and/or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, weight and/or size, faith and/or religion, age, disability, and class prevents the Cornell lbgtq populations from constructing lbgtq communities that value and celebrate differences between themselves and their individual members.*

 Direct Action to Stop Heterosexism (DASH) is a collective composed of members from the lgbtq communities and their straight allies. We are joined together by our shared disgust for both heterosexism, the institutionalized assumption that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation, and the aforementioned forms of oppression. Through direct actions we work towards eliminating oppression on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Most pressingly, we seek to create lbgtq communities on campus that do not reproduce the same systems of oppression that currently exist in the larger Cornell community and in our respective social and cultural groups. *

We will take the initiative to educate ourselves about systems of oppression and will evaluate the ways in which our actions contribute to the oppression of others. We will take action to draw attention to injustices in our lives that perpetuate these systems and will make an effort to eliminate those injustices. We will work to ensure that the university effectively enforces its non-discrimination policies. We will actively recruit members of from the community to join our celebration of resistance in order to create a sustainable lbgtq activist community on campus. Finally, we will not allow tradition to stonewall our efforts; to accomplish our goals, we will either find a way, or make one. All are welcome."

Historical Mission Statement, until 2007/2008:

“Cornell University has always had, and always will have, Queer students, staff and faculty. Efforts to ignore or threaten them, or their contributions, should not be tolerated. Direct Action to Stop Homophobia (D.A.S.H) is a group composed of all those -- Queer and straight -- who oppose oppression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender expression.

D.A.S.H is committed to creating a more democratic university.  We have a vision of a university in which Queer voices, as well as other voices which have been historically silenced, will be present in both dialogue and decision making.  We will challenge the University to live up to its non-discrimination policies, and will actively work to make Cornell a safe and just environment for people of all genders, sexes, and sexual orientations.

Beyond the University, we will work to combat local, state and national movements that promote discrimination and violence.  We will actively work to educate both ourselves and others. We will embrace every opportunity to agitate for justice and equality.”