Earlier today we told you about the new LGBT student group at Baylor University, called the Sexual Identity Forum. Shortly after our post went up, the group reported on its website that its charter has been denied by the school:
As of 1:53pm on March 2nd, 2011, we have been denied a charter. Student activities thinks that open forum discussion on sensitive topics such as those involving gender and sexuality are better handled by “professionally facilitated” organizations.
They don’t seem to realize that the frequency with which ”professionally facilitated” organizations host open forums is far less than the frequency with which students come up with questions about gender and sexuality or with which relevant politics develop. We are in the process of appealing this decision to Dr. Kevin Jackson.
Thank you for sticking with us through all of this–we won’t give up without a fight (and even then we won’t give up)! Remember, we are still meeting unofficially in the SUB Den on Thursday evenings, 8:30pm, without a charter.
They say that, because the real reason for the denial might look unbecoming to a place that claims to be a place of higher learning, and because of their fear of losing any financial support.
Thank you so much for posting this. It means a lot to us as an organization and as a community of students dedicated to higher learning that there are people out there willing to put their name out there for us, willing to take their time to raise awareness, and to point out the obvious.
I’m a student at Baylor, and I’m glad SIF is getting this support and attention from the larger Texas community. I want to make it clear that Baylor University is a great place to get an education. In the classroom, discussion is open and non-discriminatory. Baylor is a unique place that binds southern tradition, faith, and academia in an environment that helps students prosper. As with any growth in diversity, there will be obstacles, and I have no doubt that in the future Baylor will look back on this group as a resourceful, pioneering gathering of students who are passionate about equality. Change is always hard and it will come eventually–even to Baylor. I’m glad I get to see the beginning steps.
Good idea to have these events professionally facilitated. But nothing else at Baylor is professionally facilitated, so why the sudden interest in “professional facilitation”?
Interesting. Baylor has not always been so sadly full of un-professional profs and staff and adm. There MUST be a space for open dialogue about all difficult subjects, including human sexuality. If not at a university in a religious environment, where better!! BAYLOR look at scripture with intelligent, educated, informed, loving interpretation. WHAT are we afraid of? I pray for each person dealing with LGBT questions. YOU are loved, I just pray you find someone who can actually tell you that!!
Hey students, how can we LGBTQ & Allied alumni assist you? Donations sent where???