Elmhurst College has become the first college in the nation to directly ask applicants if they are gay. The question, “Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community?” appears on the school’s new admissions application.
Gary Rold, the dean of students at Elmhurst, stressed the question falls in line with the campus’ mission statement to increase diversity.
Prospective freshmen and transfer students applying for the 2012 fall semester will become the first group of applicants to check “yes,” “no” or “prefer not to answer.” Their answers will not play a role in the admissions process.
A “yes” answer could put students in line to qualify for a scholarship worth one-third of tuition at the private, liberal arts school affiliated with the United Church of Christ, said Rold.
I guess you could say that sex pays at Elmhurst College — at least, certain kinds of sex.
I wonder, will Elmhurst administrators demand proof of sexual orientation before handing out these valuable scholarships? If so, what sort of proof will students be asked to give?
In an era of student-loan sugar daddies, students these days are doing all sorts of things to pay for college. In keeping with the spirit of the times, heterosexual Elmhurst students facing potentially crushing loan burdens may be compelled to consider “broader” sexual horizons.
Am I being absurd? Perhaps. But what’s even more absurd is a college that knocks one third off the sticker price of “an education” because of sexual orientation, effectively doling out tens of thousands of dollars on the basis of students’ bedroom behavior.
Leads me to believe that the discounted Elmhurst experience most likely remains severely overpriced.
Nothing absurd about it. Were I a prospective freshman at Elmhurst I would answer "yes," if for no other reason than to que*r their discrimintory diversomania.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere are Christian scholarships in existence, as well. Aren't these just "effectively doling out tens of thousands of dollars on the basis of students’ [church] behavior"?
Kudos, btw, for equating sexuality with the bedroom and limiting understanding of sexuality to "what you do in the bedroom". Standard right-wing myopic view / obsession with gay s*x. Are you saying that any heterosexual man married to a woman is only heterosexual in the bedroom with her; aside from those sexual experiences, his sexuality doesn't exist?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo, what we are saying is that what happens in the bedroom ought not to be a basis for making an admissions decision to a college, period, anymore than should race, religion, gender or political views (note, the latter is not a protected class -- priceless).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI seriously doubt Elmhurst or any other college/university is setting aside money explicitly and exclusively for Christian students. A fortiori, I doubt there's a set of religion boxes on application forms where benefits are conferred exclusively to those who check "Christian."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJoseph, yep. The only reason Christians will be asked about religion is for a follow up question: if we disagree with "gay rights" we'll be denied admission (or degrees later, as has already been done at a few universities in their counseling programs).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUniversity administration has really come off the rails, hasn't it?
What's next? Full scholarships for pedophiles, virgins, bedwetters, hemophiliacs, NBA stars without tatoos, conjoined twins, girls who don't say "like"?? I'm sure that there are members of many "under-represented" groups who would like a piece of the diversity pie at this paragon of higher learning, Elmhurst College. Why stop at sexual orientation?
David...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy first thought was that I'd absolutely lie on my application. Then I looked up the school and realized that I'd have been in the top 1% of their applicant pool even if I'd spent all of high school addicted to crack. So, no reason to lie.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIn a certain leftist west-coast town with a prominent public university, the closest United Church (which calls itself something else, but that's what it is) has one of those fish symbols (looks like Greek lowercase alpha) on its front sign, out by the driveway entrance. This particular fish has a gay-rainbow filling. I wonder if all affiliates do that?
As for how that college would determine the truth of a students' answer: Probably not! How often do colleges check the truth of an applicant who claims to be minority, on a "diversity" form? It's easy enough to get away with native American or Hispanic, based on some real or imaginary fractional ancestry.
Years ago, I wondered if a particular college faculty member, just hired, had falsely checked a minority box. Why? His academic preparation was known to have an oddity, yet he sailed right past the fanatic activists who pre-screened for "diversity." Repeated inquiry through official channels, after being stonewalled the first couple of times, eventually got an official response that they would refuse to reveal what box he checked, due to "privacy." But the man's family ancestry, back to Europe, was visible on the Internet (they voluntarily disclosed it). For sure, 100% "white." Thus, his ancestry was not private. Only, what box he checked was secret!
As for that college, does it have dorms? I wonder if gays are assigned to the same room? Or, could it be that by intent, gays share rooms with heteros? Move along folks. Nothing to see here.
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