There was a disturbing article in the (SF) Bay Area Reporter
in August, and a follow-up letter-to-the-editor in September,
about the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC),
the private organization that accredits schools and
universities in the western U.S., at the behest of the U.S.
Department of Education.

WASC's Accrediting Commission has recently drafted a
"Policy Statement on Diversity," the final version of which
will apply to all accredited institutions.  With regard to
sexual orientation, the draft says, "There is no religious
or moral consensus on issues of sexual orientation among the
institutions accredited by this Commission, and it is
certainly not the function of the Commission to impose its
own moral stance with respect to the admission of students
or the employment of staff and faculty."  It seems that this
position was taken at the insistence of the representatives
of several religious schools on the Commission.

The Accrediting Commission includes representatives of the
U.C.  and California State College systems (which do have
non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation),
as well as private and religious schools' representatives
and some private citizens from California and other Western
States.

Steve Morin, a legislative aide to Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-SF)
says, "I really don't see why WASC is bending over for
religious schools if they advocate religious beliefs that
include discrimination against lesbians and gays as part of
what they teach.  I just don't see any reason why they should
be accredited."

WASC's address is at Mills College, P.O. Box 9990, Oakland,
CA 94613.  The executive director is Stephen S. Weiner.
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rod williams -=- pacific bell -=- san ramon, ca -=- rjwill6@pacbell.com
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