Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 18:29:08 -0500 (CDT) From: community Subject: Middle Tennessee State University Creating Change ^ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% For more information about this story, call MTSU Lambda Association at (615)780-2293 or visit www.mtsu.edu/~mtlambda/uec.html for a history of this CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---***(=)***--- The University Rules Committee of Middle Tennessee State University met October 2 to hear from four proponents of a policy enhancement aimed to protect campus gays and lesbians from discrimination. Opposition to the policy proposal sat attentive in an overwhelming crowd of supporters. Having missed the dealine to submit requests to speak on the issue, the committee chair, Dr. Paul Kline, offered an opportunity for anyone else to speak, but no one stepped foward. Speaking on behalf of the proposal were Michael Grantham (Uniform Equality Committee Chair), Mark Lopez (TN Governor for the Human Rights Campaign), Dr. Bill Turner (Co-Chair for the Lesbian and Gay Coalition for Justice), and Lena Sweeten (MTSU Graduate Student). All four speakers stressed the importance of treating people with respect and providing equal treatment under policy. "Honesty is best developed and excercised in harmony with others," said Lopez. "Gays and lesbians should have the opportunity to live their lives honestly and openly without fear of discrimination on a daily basis." Turner adds, "MTSU must committ itself at all levels to academic freedom." All major network affiliates covered the event propelling the debate even further within the campus community. The Uniform Equality Committee (UEC) will continue taking an ethical position on the issue along side relatively little vocal opposition. The proposal to add the term "sexual orientation" to the campus nondiscrimination policy was offered by the UEC back in March after eight months of research on the issue. The UEC was formed in June 1995 by MTSU student Michael Grantham to assess the need for a policy enhancement. They joined with seven campus deparments, three university programs, and more than twelve student organizations in support for a policy change before submitting a formal proposal in the form of a report. Since the UEC Report on Sexual Orientation and MTSU was released, more than 100 individuals demonstrated in support of policy changes at the University of Memphis, East Tennessee State University joined the "Equality is Civility" campaign by creating the Human Equality Committee, and Spectrum (a gay and lesbian group) was formed at the University of TN at Chatanooga. Two more Universities plan to create gay and lesbian campus organizations where none had existed before. MTSU Lambda Association will be assisting the creation of these groups. Acting on a statewide initiative to move civil rights to the forefront of TN campuses, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Student Affairs Sub Council decided to allow decisions on campus policy to rest with each university. In April 1996, a recommendation soon followed to develop a system-wide policy addressing sexual orientation bias. The UEC proposal was turned over to the University Rules Committee by MTSU President James Walker. The committee then scheduled open hearings for campus testimony on the issue setting a dealing in September for requests to speak. MTSU has until November 1 to submit proposed rule changes to the TBR. The University Rules Committee is expected to make its recommendations to MTSU President James Walker some time before. If more time is needed, it may be late 1997 before a decision is made. Commenting on the uncertainty of the requested policy enhancement, Grantham said, "Equality is civility, and we must stand for that. I'm optimistic the university will do what is just." ---***(=)***---