Diversity remains a hot topic across the University of California system. At UC Berkeley, for example, the Division of Equity and Inclusion oversees initiatives to better serve students of all backgrounds. A plan that would ask new UC students to state their sexual orientation is a positive step toward further accommodating each campus’s unique makeup.
A bill passed through the state Legislature in 2011 requires the California State University and community colleges to collect data on the sexual orientation of their students. In January, the UC Academic Senate recommended that UC schools do the same. Because of California state law, the data cannot factor into admissions decisions. While implementation at the CSU and community colleges has no deadline, and the UC’s efforts may come to fruition even later, being able to someday quantify how many students identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or other increases the capacity of each campus to meet its students’ needs.
Giving students the option to state their orientation affirms the diversity already present at the UC.
Administrators tasked with interpreting the data should remember the still-sensitive nature of sexual orientation in American society. But nevertheless, the ability of UC campuses to collect statistics on the young people they teach outweighs the marginal costs of doing so. The UC strives to serve Californians from all backgrounds — being aware of the extent to which it does can only help make that quest a reality.
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Don’t be naive. The administration will collect the data, and compare the actual numbers to whatever they think is the optimal percentage of LGBTQ students on campus (ie their idea of best for PR). If the two don’t match, then sexual orientation absolutely will be used in admissions decisions.
The past few years shown that the administration will abuse any power it possesses and that the UC has no respect for the law or individual rights.
Compelling persons to divulge such private information serves no legitimate purpose, but it is ripe for abuse and reeks of the surveillance/police state.
For what purpose would the information be used? Creating a “Lou Reid” wing at the dorm?
Nobody with the sense God gave a goose would fill out the request, and why did the admissions clerks want to know in the first place?
Then the UC can start requiring information on student’s religion. Maybe we just cut to the chase and provide colored stars for certain groups to wear, so we can track them. Of course, this is for their own good.
“…being able to someday quantify how many students identify as lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender or other increases the capacity of each
campus to meet its students’ needs.”
What needs? Why does student sexual orientation require analytics? Should we provide special services for men who don’t belong to the politically powerful LGBT group and who are attracted only to blonde or Asian girls? Remember, we’re not talking about gay marriage or civil rights issues, we are talking about a university providing special services for a group of students whose “handicap” has nothing to do with academic achievement, access to education, or institutional discrimination. When Farrakhan made crude remarks about gays we conservatives immediately objected to his ignorant words. But when a university starts setting aside funds for special groups without explaining why that group needs it, then we must object as well.
[Diversity remains a hot topic across the University of California
system. At UC Berkeley, for example, the Division of Equity and
Inclusion oversees initiatives to better serve students of all
backgrounds. A plan that would ask new UC students to state their sexual
orientation is a positive step toward further accommodating each
campus’s unique makeup.}
Bullshit. It’s merely the pathway to blackmail and Balkanization.
Ever heard of “divide and conquer”? This is all about finding ways to break down people into special interest groups at each other’s throats. Straight vs. gay, black vs. white, Jew vs. Muslim. Get a clue…
yes, today we agree
The next thing we know, Tony will be proclaiming: “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains”.