A recent measure of UC and Cal State campuses is being attacked because of plans to ask students about their sexual orientation on application or enrollment forms. The measure would kick in during the Fall 2013 semester.
Gay activists see this as a way to gain recognition and the plan is part of a state law that aims to gauge and better accommodate the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community on campuses especially when it comes to services such as counseling.
According to Christopher Ward, chief of staff to Assemblyman Marty Block (D-San Diego), the law, written by Block and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall, was “partly inspired by a UC report showing that gay students had much higher rates of depression than their peers and more often felt disrespected on campus.”
The law itself does not require but rather gives permission for students and staff to identify their sexual orientation on any demographic forms that have questions such as race and national origin.
Elmhurst College, a private school in Illinois, became the first in the nation to ask their applicants about their sexual orientation with 85 percent of their applicants volunteering and three percent identifying as homosexual, bisexual or transgender.
They ask in order to help students qualify for scholarships given to diversify the student body, says Dean of Admission Gary Rold.
The question reads as follows: “Would you consider yourself a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community?”
So why is California so hesitant to follow suit? Privacy and misuse of the data seem to be the biggest issues with the law.
According to State Senator Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), who voted against the bill, it is not only an invasion of privacy but also the information could be “improperly used and wrongly divulged.”
Student government activist at UC Berkeley Andrew Albright is a gay student and said he understands gay students’ jitters about how their responses would be used.
Another criticism is that students may not want to reveal their sexuality on college applications because parents can see them and they may not want to open up about their orientation at that moment.
Common Application officials said that while they considered asking students these voluntary questions some colleges thought, “Some 17-year-olds may not realize their sexuality just yet, while others simply may not want others to know.”
While the criticisms are definitely valid, it is easy to see that this measure would help meet LGBT student and staff needs on campus better by knowing how big the community is.
I can see how the college application argument is valid. My best friend came out as a lesbian and her parents are still coping with the news.
There should be a more anonymous way to answer if students wish to do so without their parents being able to see it.
Asking about sexual identity after or when students are enrolling is a great solution. The only downside seen by Executive Director of Campus Pride, Shane Windmeyer is that not asking students their sexual orientation at the time of application may harm their chances of applying for privately funded scholarships for homosexuals.
I am not a part of the gay community but I can’t help but agree with UC system Interim Diversity Coordinator Jesse Bernal in that “giving students the opportunity to answer such questions sends a positive message of inclusiveness to LGBT students and creates an environment that is inclusive and welcoming of diverse population.”
UC Provost Lawrence Pitts says the rule will be implemented with students enrolling at the 10 UC campuses in fall 2013.
While the Cal State system is still considering the possibilities of asking these question on their enrollment forms.
Community colleges are still analyzing the issue but may choose to include it on their online applications.
Nayeli Carillo is a senior journalism major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
