For the first time in recent memory, Southern Methodist University is not on the Princeton Review’s “LGBT-unfriendly” list (registration required). Last year, the school was ranked 12th-most homophobic.
Karen Click, director of the SMU Women’s Center for Gender and Pride Initiatives, was delighted with the news.
“I’ve only worked seven years to get there,” she said.
She said that just because SMU is off the list, it doesn’t mean the work is over. Baylor, for example, had been on the list, dropped off last year but is back in the No. 10 spot this year. Other Texas schools on the homophobic list are Texas A&M at No. 7 and University of Dallas at No. 15.
The most LGBT-unfriendly school this year is Grove City College in Pennsylvania. The most LGBT-friendly school is Emerson College in Boston.
Princeton Review only releases the top and bottom 20 in each category. Here are the other categories in which SMU was ranked this year:
• Best career services: No. 7
• College town gets high marks: No. 16
• Happiest students: No. 15
• Lots of Greek life: No. 12
• Most accessible professors: No. 2
• Most conservative students: No. 17
• Best athletic facilities: No. 10
