Official Statement: Campus Pride responds to Texas Christian University decision to not go forward with LGBT Living/Learning Community
Last week, it was announced that Texas Christian University would create a DiverCity Q Living Learning Community for LGBT issues within the campus housing options. Eight students had already committed to the housing program. The "Living Learning Community" concept has been a successful model at many other colleges and universities across the country. The program supports diverse student populations as well as provides a meaningful way to learn within a living learning community atmosphere. Such communities have been developed around religious issues, ethnic/racial minorities, academic disciplines, athletics, international students, foreign languages, etc.
After the decision was announced last week, TCU received praise and controversy surrounding the decision to extend the current living learning communities to also have DiverCity Q. Today TCU Chancellor released this statement:
"TCU will not launch any new living learning communities at this time," TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., said in a statement. "Instead we will assess whether the concept of housing residential students based on themes supports the academic mission of the institution as well as our objective to provide a total university experience."
In reaction to this news and change in decision, Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer released this official statement, as follows:
"Last week, Campus Pride commended the positive efforts of the students and administrators at Texas Christian University with their decision to create the DiverCity Q living learning community. It was a simple way to ensure support of out LGBT students and their allies on the TCU campus. It also visibly demonstrated the true diversity of Christian people who are LGBT and the fact that you can be LGBT and Christian. In fact, there have always been LGBT student leaders at TCU and many who have boldly helped the TCU campus community be able to embrace a true understanding of the Christian principles of love and acceptance.
The Chancellor's statement haulting the formation of all living learning communities is unfortunate. The way the decision is now being handled sends the absolute wrong message. Just because anti-LGBT television personalities like Sean Hannity and other religious activists criticized TCU, this should not dissuade a campus from supporting any group of its students -- especially when the request for a LGBT living learning community came from students who attend college there. Living learning communities are a common practice at many colleges and universities and, as shown, have had success at the TCU campus for other issues/communities.
Campus Pride denounces the TCU decision by Chancellor Boschini. Every student regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression should feel welcome, safe and supported by their campus. The Chancellor's decision, a week later, essentially tells TCU LGBT students and their allies that they do not matter."
5 comments
Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for student leaders and campus organizations working to create a safer LGBT learning environment at colleges and universities. It exists to develop, support and give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders.
Blog RSSCampus Pride Blog
The Campus Pride Blog: Campus Q&A provides a forum to ask questions and get answers. Now you can hear perspectives, issues, news and events from LGBT & Ally student leaders at colleges and universities across the United States.
Campus Q&A is moderated by LGBT and ally student leaders from across the United States.
Media distortion destroyed the idea
As one who is personally acquainted with one of the students who proposed this Living Learning Community, I've been reading the media and subsequent comments online with increasing disbelief. Segregation? Ridiculous. This isn't self-imposed segregation anymore than a sorority or fraternity is. Or, for that matter, anyone who chooses to 'room with' anyone else. The living/learning segment of this debate is key here. The entire purpose of the community was to open up dialogue and discussion with the entire campus about the issue of discrimination against those individuals who choose to be themselves on campus (ie not closeted.) It sure did open up a discussion - but the resultant hatred and negativity which spewed forth from supposed 'Christians' has led me to take a more objective view of my religion.
It makes me sick to realize that folks who proclaim Christianity could display such outright ignorance and hatred against someone who, as themselves, is a part of the humanity created in God's image.
The purpose of this community was to foster a greater understanding that every single soul on this earth is equal to every other in God's eyes. That the administration of this large university chose to take the path of regression to some sort of homophobic bygone era is extremely disappointing and sad. I am a heterosexual female of an older generation - and truly thought we were moving forward in society. Guess I was wrong.
Still not a good move by TCU
Anonymous-
I would agree that it wouldn't be different if when enrolling in the school or campus housing people were singled out based on color, orientation, etc., but that isn't what is happening.
Last year a student at TCU pushed to get a learning community to focus on LBGT community and allies. Now it is being canceled - and probably because of prejudice.
There are other learning communities around leadership, other themes, periods of history, etc. Is gender or woman's studies or black studies also a problem in your eyes? In GA this past fall there were legislative issues causing politicians to get involved in studies like this. I tend to think that is a problem just like this.
I agree with you, people should feel welcome regardless of who they are. Now though, the opposite is happening. Students that might have wanted to more about this now cannot. 'They' are not just assigned living spaces because they are this or that.
I would also say you should be mad if people say you did not have the same requirements to get in school because you are black. But are people saying that knowledgeable? No, they are privileged and don't have to consider the difference between themselves and those without privilege. Could be white, class, gender, race, heterosexism, whatever. Most people don't know that for at least the first few decades those that benefited most from affirmative action was white females. When most people I come across have an issue with affirmative action they don't have an issue with that group but they are directing comments to people of color in a negative way. That is ignorant and the effects are still with us today! This community isn't a leg up, it is, like other learning communities, a space for people with like interests to share and learn with one another...not to mention a retention tool for campuses...but that is another issue.
But when you say it was a good move by TCU what else would you agree is a good move?
The "they" at TCU wasn't just LBGT students - allies and anyone interested could be a part of that community. So if you wanted to learn more or be a part of that community you could.
I do not have a problem with a community like this, or a gender studies or black studies, or anything else. One of my reasons is exactly why people think because you are black you may have different standards - issues need to be brought to the surface and dialogue needs to occur for effective action to take place. To suppress that is promoting the already privileged oppressor, whether it be white, heterosexist, homophobic, male, etc. That privilege is in history books, politics, and university policy.
But wait..
So making a place for people of a single lifestyle, as a separate place to live is not segregation? So let's say, since I am black, they made a place for just black people to live. Or a place for just white people? How is it any different? I think that would raise a few of the eyebrows on this website, would it not? I do not want to be singled out for my race, orientation, religion, or favorite color.. For some reason people find advanced segregation to be a way to express yourself, but honestly it is just sugar coating the opinion that we are not created equal, but separated by our own preferences. I will admit, I am not gay, but I do not see a need to separate them away from the rest of the campus. A place to educate people about their lifestyle, sure that's fine. But a whole "living community" devoted to their lifestyle is just unreasonable. Colleges and Universities have a way of being selective about choosing compatible roommates, we do not need to separate them from society/ the rest of campus, or, on the other hand, force tuition money of people who do not find there lifestyle appropriate, to fund such a project. They should feel welcome, by knowing that the university does not care what orientation, race, etc. they are, and they will not be singled out because of this. The modern university setting is themed around the idea that everyone is equal in the eyes of the entity, not to form a place for you to be if you are a "certain this or hyphen that". I get so mad when people tell me that since I am black, that I do not have to have the same requirement to get into college as other races. That bothers me. The University is designed to provide an equal opportunity for all, not to give some a leg up or say that because you are different you get special privileges or do not have to do requirements that everyone else does. It was a good move by TCU.
Segregation or Inclusion?
I don't think it would be segregation...as TCU and many universities have a plethora of learning communities targeting a variety of interests and populations.
That argument or thought process would say that any other learning community is segregating students, my thoughts are that it is being more intentional and inviting to students that have specific experiences or interests. This community happens to target LBGTQ/Allies, so now the Chancellor puts a stop to all new communities.
It's not about assessing the need like the Chancellor says, it's about stopping a program that is successful on many campuses (learning/living communities) when it starts to include the LBGTQ community and supporters.
Students don't have to join the community, so it isn't saying any gay student has to live there, it is the freedom to choose on the behalf of the student. The segregation argument makes it really myopic, when the bigger picture is about including LBGTQ in current programs/education on campuses. TCU isn't stopping these targeting learning communities on a larger scale, just stopping them now, I wonder why???
But wait...
Wouldn't that just be a form of segregation if it went through? Isn't it a good thing that they are not singling out anyone based on their sexual orientation? Wouldn't it hurt acceptance in the community if they are singled out instead of being just another person? I am honestly confused by this.
Add your comment