In writing a letter advising Virginia public colleges and universities to strip references of sexual orientation from their non-discrimination policies, state Attorney General and University alumnus Ken Cuccinelli penned the platform student activists needed to convince their schools otherwise. Tuesday, Student Council unanimously passed a resolution to urge the University to reaffirm "its non-discrimination policy protection for sexual orientation and expand the policy to include gender identity and gender expression." The resolution also solicits the Virginia General Assembly to include "sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression" in the Virginia Human Rights Act that protects government employees from workplace discrimination.
Council proposed the resolution following the one-year anniversary of a hate crime against a gay student at the University that occurred April 4, 2009. Engineering School Representative Seth Kaye, who sponsored the bill, was shocked by the level of support he received from more than 62 groups in the University community in favor of the proposal. "I sent one e-mail out to the StudCo-CIO listserv ... I talked to a handful of groups, but certainly not 62," Kaye said. This resounding support that poured in from an eclectic variety of student organizations should stand as a red flag for the University to follow suit with such change.
George Mason University lost no time in responding to the attorney general's request. A mere three weeks after Cuccinelli issued his letter, George Mason reaffirmed its commitment to the LGBTQ communities by resolving that "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender faculty, students, administrators and staff make outstanding contributions to the accomplishment of the university mission." More specifically, George Mason's Board of Visitors asserted this equal treatment for all persons would remain in place, arguing that a diverse community on its campus is "vitally important."
Heeding Council's advice would be a step in the right direction for the University and the Board of Visitors. It reaffirms to students that although the University is a state institution, it functions autonomously and does not necessarily stand by the attorney general's actions. Cuccinelli's statements reflected poorly upon the state, and an affirmation similar to George Mason's by the University's Board would be a good signal to show prospective students that it strongly condemns discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Such a move also may set an example for other universities. Perceptions matter, and this is a chance to affect how people view the University - a particularly important concern in light of last week's incident of racial intolerance, which may have helped to undermine the University's reputation as a generally welcoming community.
It is a rare occasion when a university or its board should take a political stand. Although this is hardly too controversial an issue, there is always the risk that it will be perceived as bucking the current administration in Richmond and may damage the University's relationship with state leadership. Nevertheless, now comes a moment when that risk weighs less than the risk of inaction. As a matter of principle, the Board should show unanimously its dedication toward non-discrimination at the University.
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