Letting students live in peace
I remember when I first came to Central Michigan University, and I climbed all the way to the top of Barnes third floor to meet my new acquaintances in the Public Service Residential Community. I was excited to be living with dozens of other first-year students who had an interest in public service and human rights just as I did. I remember first learning about the program on CMU’s housing website. I was ecstatic to learn I would soon be living in a new home where I would be accepted.
Fast forward three years, and now there is an outpouring of criticism on LGBTQ housing inclusiveness. I see straight people coming out of the woodwork, plastering across their Facebook pages: “Discrimination.” I read Executive Director of Campus Life Shaun Holtgreive’s message to students, “CMU is committed to maintaining and encouraging diversity in its student body and continually strives to make its campus and residence hall environments friendly and diverse for all students, including our LGBTQA students,” but I do not see how denying a safe space for such students is keeping LGBTQ students safe and included in a campus environment.
I see people calling this segregation, saying that homophobic people should just buck up and learn how to be decent human beings. However, no student has a moral duty to change someone’s life perspective. Students come to school to learn, not to teach a bigot to abandon bigotry.
Already on campus are a number of residence halls that cater to the needs of minority students. There is a hall dedicated to international students, multicultural students, first-year students, transfer students, as well as halls established for business students, EHS students, Health Professions students and music students.
So now students who identify as LGBTQ want a safe place to live on campus, and the whole school gets offended. Students who want to live in a space where they know they can be their true selves are now being denied this opportunity.
Perhaps the survey question was poorly worded. However, the reason why the question was worded in such a way was to ensure that those identifying as LGBTQ would not have to out themselves, as outing themselves increases threats of danger. Homophobia is dangerous and at times, deadly, and no student has a moral obligation to try to “change” a homophobic roommate.
I am honestly astounded that those who claim to be “allies” of the LGBTQ community are so outright against this measure.
The failure of the administration and students to listen is embarrassing. The campaign was spearheaded by sexual minority students to benefit sexual minority residents.
For students and administration to ignore these students tells me CMU does not actually care about its sexual minority population. If they did, they would authorize LGBTQ-specific housing.
