I was really excited to see that Campus Pride and its LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index (http://www.campusclimateindex.org) was featured in a recent Newsweek Article -- Fresh Start by Julie Halpert - April 3, 2009, Newsweek.

However, that excitement quickly came to an end when I discovered a not so positive response to the article -- A Rainbow of College Choices, by Colleen Raezler - April 4, 2009, NewsBusters.org

When I first read the second article, I wasn’t sure how to react to it, but after some reflection, I now have a few thoughts about this article. As someone who had to select a college not too long ago, I understand all of the pressures behind it. Everyone has some sort of criteria involved: do they have my major? How close are they to activities I like to do? Is it too close or too far from home? And so on. However for LGBT students there is one my criteria that becomes important. Will the school that I choose support who I am? Even as an ally, I looked for a school that was at least somewhat accepting of the group of people that I had spent the last several years working to support. Now, I will admit that my school isn’t exactly liberal, but when I came to Open House to tour the school, they had a club fair. I had already fallen in love with the campus, and when I saw that rainbow booth, I knew that it was the school for me, because there was a club that I knew I could join.

As Julie Halpert in the Newsweek articles states “they're seeking a place that provides a safe, accepting environment that allows them the chance to be themselves and find others like them—something many couldn't find in high school.” For most people, college is the first time away from home. Why wouldn’t you choose a place where you can be yourself?

In the article by Colleen Raezler, which isn’t as positive, it makes it seem like Campus Pride is trying to push the LGBT agenda onto all of the schools. However, that is not what the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index (CCI) is there to do. Yes, the CCI is voluntary, but it must be filled out by a campus official. Some of the questions are not ones that all students will know. The CCI uses eight features to talk about inclusiveness and they are 1. LGBT Policy Inclusion, 2. LGBT Support & Institutional Commitment, 3. LGBT Student Life, 4. LGBT Academic Life, 5. LGBT Housing, 6. LGBT Campus Safety, 7. LGBT Counseling & Health, and 8. LGBT Recruitment and Retention Efforts. I am not really sure how knowing if the campus allows transgender students to be housed in keeping with their gender identity/expression is pushing the LGBT agenda on people, or having gender-neutral/single occupancy restrooms. The restrooms benefit more than the LGBT community. They also are beneficial to families or people with small children, and people with disabilities. When I was looking at colleges, I was not aware of this, however, I probably would have looked at it to see how my school was doing in those areas. Even before I was involved with Campus Pride my school used the CCI. At the Pride Center, we used our results from the CCI as a starting point of where we needed to improve. It was spelled out for us right there.

I think the most important part of the CCI can be summed up by what is said as a part of the headline in the Newsweek article “It's an important choice for any kid, but for gay teens, finding a welcoming campus can be a life saver.”