Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991 TAG: 9102050174
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The policy change, debated for months, won by a wide margin at a University Council meeting.
After it is signed by President James McComas, the admissions and employment policy for Tech will say that the university does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, politics "or sexual orientation."
"In many ways, this won't change anything," said Brian McConnell, a student senator who drafted the new policy for the Student Government Association. "Realistically, when someone applies to the university, you can't tell who's gay or who isn't."
But it may help staff and faculty members who fear that their sexual preferences, if known, could affect their chances for tenure or promotion, McConnell said.
"I'm pleased it was up for consideration and I endorsed its passing," said Cornel Morton, special assistant to McComas and director of affirmative action. "It has a potential benefit for the campus climate."
Students have been working for more than two years to get the new policy into writing, said Tom Goodale, vice president for student affairs.
After passing the student senate, the policy was endorsed by the commission of student affairs and then brought before the council.
The fight to bring the policy into writing was not so much against people opposing the policy - though there were a few staff members who disagreed with it.
"It was a fight against apathy and lack of concern," said McConnell, who was president of Lambda Horizons, the university's gay and lesbian student union. "A lot of people didn't oppose the policy, but they didn't fight for it either."
One faculty member suggested making the statement simpler and more inclusive so the university wouldn't unintentionally discriminate against members of another group by not mentioning them.
Students originally began working toward a policy change 10 years ago, McConnell said.
Other schools in the state have been changing their policies, too.
The University of Virginia added "sexual orientation" as a protected category in its policy just last week.
Radford University's Board of Visitors changed the school policy in April to read that the university doesn't discriminate on the basis of sexual preference.
"At the time the board members passed it, they thought it appropriate to formalize what was already in practice," said university spokeswoman Deborah Brown.
by CNB