By snoadmin
Cal States are planning to change college applications to ask students about their sexual orientation. CSU’s will implement the change for the fall 2013 semester.
The plan to include the voluntary poll has the support of gay activist groups, but some are saying the question is a potential invasion of privacy.
Asking students to identify their sexual orientation is getting a little personal, but the schools are adding it to comply with AB 620, a law that encourages UC’s and CSU’s to provide access to student services to accommodate the LGBT community.
Asking for sexual orientation could be a good idea, as it will give the university a better view of their student body.
Universities like to promote diversity, so asking for sexual orientation will give universities a more accurate account of campus diversity.
The UC interim diversity coordinator, Jesse Bernal stated that adding the question would “send a positive message of inclusiveness to LGBT students and creates an environment that is inclusive and welcoming of diverse populations.”
The law is also meant to discourage bullying and discrimination. Being more in tune to the diversity of the student body will also give campuses a chance to improve or add social services like counseling or scholarships.
Sen. Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) argues that asking prospective freshman to identify their sexual orientation is an invasion of privacy. The fact that the question is voluntary leaves students a choice, but there are other issues that make the change questionable.
Students filling out freshman applications are usually 17 or 18 and at that age some students may not be ready to openly address their orientation or discuss it with their parents or peers.
Seeing the orientation question on an application could lead to pressure or stress that students do not need to deal with when filling out while applying to school.
And there is also the possibility that some students have not even figured out their orientation. Again, the fact that answering the question is voluntary should help alleviate any pressure felt by the student.
Universities should consider leaving a decline to answer option as well for students who may not be sure how to identify themselves.
There is also the argument that asking students to identify their sexual orientation will be divisive to the student body and is just excessive labeling. Cal State applications are pretty impersonal since they do not require any personal statements or essays. So why the sudden interest in something as personal as a student’s sexual orientation? Will the change just give students another box to check or will it be something more significant?
UC’s have already added the question and the Cal States will add it to common applications next year. Adding more services and scholarships is a good reason to ask the question. It is true, adding more student services to universities could increase student fees, but universities will not add those services unless the applications reflect an incredibly high demand. And even if they did, at least the money will be directly helping students.
