Miss Gay Texas questions Princeton Review ranking
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| Joe Hoselton, aka Jenna Skyy, is graduate admissions coordinator at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts and was recently crowned Miss Gay Texas. Hoselton said he doubts he has a female-impersonating counterpart at Baylor. |
For the second year in a row, Southern Methodist University was recently named the 14th-most homophobic school in the nation by The Princeton Review.
‘Joe Hoselton said he disagrees with the ranking and wonders how SMU was equated with Brigham Young University, the University of Dallas, Baylor University and others that appeared on the Review’s annual top 20 list titled, "Alternative Lifestyle Not An Alternative."
Hoselton, whose female persona is Jenna Skyy, is graduate admissions coordinator for SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts and the newly crowned Gay Miss Texas.
"The view from my window, not that I have a window, is a much better view," Hoselton said. "I’m around people who are gay-friendly or gay themselves."
He said when he returned from Houston with the Gay Miss Texas crown, the dean sent him an e-mail with congratulations. The e-mail from the dean at other schools on the most homophobic list, he suggested, might have been a termination notice.
Karen Click is director of the Women’s Center at SMU, which also houses Spectrum, the LGBT student organization. Click said she was also somewhat surprised by the school’s ranking. She rattled off a number of programs and events on campus in the last year.
She said SMU has a non-discrimination project called "Every Student Deserves Respect." The campus has held programs for National Coming Out Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and Gay Pride, and it hosted an LGBT job fair sponsored by Resource Center Dallas. An LGBT mentoring career program helps students learn about being gay in the workplace. In addition to Spectrum, Allies is a group of on-campus LGBT supporters that holds regular social hours. Complaints of discrimination at SMU are taken seriously.
But, Click said she trusts the ranking somewhat because it’s based on student surveys. She said it’s "a mixed bag" of students who come into her office.
"Some have had positive healthy experiences on campus. Others have not," she said.
Baylor, the Southern Baptist university in Waco, ranked three spots above SMU on the list, at No. 11. A professor at Baylor, who asked not to be identified, said the university would fire her if she came out. In contrast, Hoselton noted that SMU offers domestic partner health benefits to employees.
A representative from the University of Dallas, a Catholic school that was No. 8 on the most homophobic list, didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Seamus Mullarkey, senior editor of Princeton Review’s "Best 371 Colleges" said, "All comments and rankings come from students." He chose some quotations from the open-ended section, "Tell us about life on campus."
Students wrote, "SMU could use more diversity," and, "Huge mix of students but you have to look hard."
Mullarkey said to be included on the list, schools must be academically excellent. Also, the average number of surveys returned was 350-400 per school. Had too few been returned, the school wouldn’t have been ranked. He said he didn’t know who responded to the SMU survey or, for example, if most answers came from the Cox School of Business rather than the Meadows School of the Arts.
Mullarkey said that while policies and events at institutions may vary, student attitudes alone determine the rankings.
But Hoselton still wonders if he’d be tolerated, no less embraced, at a truly homophobic school.
"I’ve hosted in drag the staff talent show, during the school year, during the day, on campus," he said, adding that he doubts he has a Baylor counterpart.
For more on the Princeton Review rankings, go to www.princetonreview.com.
E-mail taffet@dallasvoice.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 7, 2009.
She is the reigning Miss Gay Texas FFI. Our community has multiple pageantry systems that people that are afforded to participate in, i.e. FFI, USofA, America, EOY, Continental, Unlimited, etc…the list goes on.
So I ask that you please state the full title that an entertainer has won in the future. Thanks!
I am an open lesbian who teaches in a Meadows department at SMU. We have partner benefits and my partner is invited to all events to which spouses are invited. We have always been treated with respect. I work with numerous openly gay staff and faculty. All of my students know I’m gay. It has never been an issue at SMU.
I have taught more than a few out students and at least in Meadows their fellow students don’t seem to care about their orientation.
I am a transgender woman, resident of Dallas and was a contributing author for the Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network in 2008. I was surprised last year after hearing about this ranking and contacted Karen Click and a number of current students and alumni. I could not find anyone who could confirm the validity of the Princeton review.
Last year I attended the transgender day of remembrance (DOR)candle light vigil that was hosted Spectrum and the women’s center at SMU. I am very thankful for the hard work and that heartfelt sincere ceremony.
I understand that the Princeton review obtains it’s ranking information from confidential student reviews and there are some safeguards to insure ballot box stuffing does not occur. I also understand that yearly updates are not automatic.
Current students afraid of peer pressure and those who have found employment and owe there allegiance to SMU would place themselves at risk if they came out in support of the Princeton reviews ranking.
This leaves doubt.
Is this ranking the only way for the truth to be exposed? Is the homophobia like water about to overflow an administrative dam?
Or is this all misinformation?
I think things have come a long way at SMU compared to when I was there in the late 80s. Back then, the gay group met in secret and you had to be screened by the faculty mbr first, I guess to make sure you were “really” gay.
Recent graduate of SMU, here, and convinced that the ranking is accurate. The only people to say otherwise, so far, are from the MSA and the Women’s Center. There is a world of difference between the ARTS SCHOOL and the rest of SMU. Also, not to fault Joe, but as coordinator of admissions in Meadows, he has to find a way to tell gay artists that they would be comfortable at SMU. It’s bound to be a big part of his job. Gay groups and events have very low attendance, many students spend all four years in the closet, homophobic opinion pieces are published in the campus paper with a fairly annual regularity… SMU may be better than it was, it may have official policies protecting faculty. But it still belongs on the list. And you know why? Because it still shares a very important characteristic with the Baptist, Mormon, and Catholic schools on the list – two thirds of the students have a religious affiliation, and most are of the Highland Park variety. Compare that to the one third of students at NYU, Princeton Review’s #1 gay friendly school. It’s not a coincidence.
As a gay man who has taught at SMU for six years, I second Travis’ observation. Meadows is a world unto itself at SMU. I am glad that Joe has had nothing but positive experiences at SMU. His experience, however, has more to do with Meadows than it does SMU.
Four years ago, I came to work one morning to find the word FAGGOT written, not just on my office door, but on the ALLIES sticker on my door. ALLIES is a faculty/staff group that provides support to LGBT students. When I reported the crime to President Turner’s office, I was asked, “What would you like us to do?” I gave President Turner’s assistant a list of actions, which included placing a statement from President Turner on the website. All of my recommendations were rejected. When the Daily Campus reported the incident, one student wrote a column stating that gays’ “flamboyant, in-your-face approach [made him] gag.” Another student wrote a column so offensive that the Daily Campus wouldn’t publish it. My guess is that the student wouldn’t be that supportive of Joe’s alter ego, Jenna Skyy. I am also convinced, having received dozens of letters from parents over the years, that there are more than a few parents who wouldn’t be thrilled about the prospect of their children going to a school that employs a female impersonator in a recruitment position.
Yes, SMU has same-sex partner benefits; yes, the faculty and administration tends to be supportive; but there is still a great deal of homophobia among the student body. Students in Meadows may feel comfortable being out, but I suggest it’s not because SMU is a gay-friendly place, rather because people involved in the arts tend to be in the avant-garde in issues related to diversity. When SMU links to a story about Jenna Skyy and places a photo of “her†on its main page, I’ll believe that the school is making progress.
Joe’s job is to present SMU in its best possible light. But it does no one a service to paint a rosier picture than actually exists. One of SMU’s problems is its inability — refusal — to acknowledge its flaws. My hope is that Joe’s experience in Meadows be duplicated campus-wide. Maybe Joe will agree to write a series of columns addressing the issue for the Daily Campus. I, for one, would welcome the dialogue.
As a student at Perkins School of Theology at SMU I have to add that our department is rather open, but many are not. I think that we have to seperate what the faculty/staff experience with what the students experience. The staff and faculty, includig the amazing work of the Women’s Center, are doing their best to reach out to the LGBTQA population. They have hosted numerous events, inclusing Gayla Prom, Transgender Day of Remembrance and a discussion on Stonewall. However, the conservative base of students are still not open to LGBTQA needs. SPECTRUM, the Gay-Straight Alliance at SMU, is also working hard to change this.
I completely applaud Joe aka Jenna Sky for his contributions to not only the art form of female impersonation, but also for his undying belief that we all should be treated equally! You rock Joe! Keep up the good work!
I applaud Joe/Jenna, too. My comments in no way were intended to diminish his accomplishments, only temper what may be an idealized image of SMU.
As a graduate of SMU, and having gone through my own saga of public drama over sexuality, I have to say that I found SMU to be a very welcoming place. I was in Dedman.
My admissions counselor was gay. The director of new student programs, a Baylor graduate who was also gay, and like me, a Republican. The director of my residence hall was gay, and in fact, caught me at a bar in Austin (underage) and held my feet to the fire for it! Arnold Jones, perhaps one of the smartest professors I had (and the most liberal), was not only gay, but offered me one of my most influential and challenging courses in civil rights. I had many positive gay role models at SMU, and found it to be a welcoming place – and NONE of them were at Meadows. If I had to say there was one school which was the most obnoxious about gay issues it was Meadows and its staff.
When I went through my saga with Collin County, I received countless letters and emails from former students, current SMU students, and faculty alike.
I do remember there being a group of gay students (I don’t remember the name). But, they would put on events like “MasQUEERades” and the like which just turned off the student body – and they should have. I was around when the “Faggot” incident occured on Mr. Hendson’s door. It was not pleasant. But the university did seem unified in its condemnation.
This is an reoccurring theme in the gay rights movement. Do we attempt to show how similar we are – just like everyone else, just with partners of our own gender? Or, do we be outrageous and as obnoxious as possible in hopes that people will give in – eventually. I subscribe to the former school of thought.
Mr. Nichols undermined his own argument when he wrote, “and like me, a Republican.”
It’s likely Mr. Nichols found SMU to be a welcoming place not because of the liberalness of the faculty but because a majority of students shared his conservative political views, that and he seemed eager to be an apologist for us “obnoxious” — an adjective he used twice — gays.
Mr. Nichols is young; he has yet to learn that being an accommodationist gets you nowhere.
Bert,
I only mentioned my political affiliation, along with that of the director of new student programs, and the liberal views of Professor Jones to demonstrate that I found acceptance from both sides of the ‘political isle’. Professor Jones was an excellent teacher regardless of our differences in political opinion. Also, I have been previously criticized for not disclosing my political affiliation, and so I did it subtly above.
Also, I object to being called an accommodationist. If I’m anything, it’s not an accommodationist. See my letter to the editor in the Dallas Voice on July 10th:
https://dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_11538.php
I don’t believe in apologizing or accommodating. In fact, just last year I sat outside the CEO of Cinemark’s personal home with a sign that read “A Biggot Lives Here”.
I do, however, believe that that the civil rights movement for gays and lesbians, much like that of blacks and Hispanics, should emphasize our likeness – not our differences which are used against us to promote stereotypes and fear.
Conversely, I believe in taking firm stances, making concrete demands, and mixing a little patience in with the strategy.
One thing you will not see me do is interrupting a city council meeting to the point where I’m ejected, or wearing buttless chaps in the streets of a parade meant to showcase the best of our community – not the most outrageous.
By ‘obnoxious’ I mean those who live up to every stereotype assigned to the gay community. The reality is that most gays and lesbian couples lead normal, responsible, productive, and quiet lives. Again, I believe that changing hearts and minds happens when we demonstrate our likenesses – not by accentuating our differences.
I’m sorry if I offended with my use of the term obnoxious, but I hope you can see my point of view. I thank you for replying, and I know that while we have different paths, we’re both striving towards the same goal! 🙂
it’s called flair, justin – – – –
some of us are just born with it!