Editorial: LGBT status important for housing, not college apps

It’s one thing to come out to family, friends and peers. But what about declaring your sexual orientation on college applications? It’s one thing to come out to family, friends and peers. But what about declaring your sexual orientation on college applications?

Elmhurst College recently became the first university in the nation to ask its applicants about their sexual orientations. The idea is that assessing the size of a school’s LGBTQ population could help administrators better fit their students’ needs, which could include finding tolerant roommates and providing appropriate health care.

But we think it’s a practice that’s not exactly fair.

What if, after surveying its student body, a school found that only 1 percent of its students reported being LGBTQ? Of course, that percentage’s accuracy wouldn’t be precise, but a school could see that number and cut back funding for resources such as LGBTQ-specialized counseling. And those cuts might not necessarily be in the student population’s best interest.

Although Pitt is a large school, the exact size of its LGBTQ population isn’t very clear. Fortunately, the Student Health Service offers specialized services and nondiscriminatory health care. It could improve its housing accommodations, though, by employing an Elmhurst-esque survey of students’ preferences.

But instead of adopting an application questioning policy like Elmhurst, Pitt could survey enrolled students on their housing applications.

By waiting until a student enrolls in a particular university to ask his or her orientation, schools can avoid any discrimination or affirmative action-like decisions. With orientation questions on applications, admissions officials would be able to use a prospective student’s sexual orientation to further diversify a campus or decline him or her because of it, whether consciously or subconsciously.

We don’t think sexual orientation should have any bearing on a student’s admission to a university.

When it comes to housing choices, though, discrimination and fear are far different from roommates simply not getting along. Polling students on their sexuality, tolerance and gender preferences could allow Pitt to house students in places that are a better fit for their lifestyles and preferences. It’s all about comfort and happiness, and if a college doesn’t meet students’ needs to the best of its ability, it should undertake more effective procedures.

For example, transgendered students might not know exactly where they stand on the gender continuum, but they should be able to choose to live where they feel comfortable and free from harassment.

Because students can’t exactly choose where they live at Pitt, a less-effective way of handling housing issues is to wait and see if a problem arises and then allow a roommate switch, if necessary.

In former Rutgers student Tyler Clementi’s case, the way his roommate and floormate treated him drove him to suicide — all because he was gay.

We think universities across the nation should see this unfortunate event as a sign that they must accommodate members of the LGBTQ community. Too many tragedies involving bullying are preventable.

We think sexual orientation does not directly correlate to how well a student can function under certain living conditions, but there are still prejudiced and judgmental people who might be unwelcoming or uncomfortable with certain living arrangements.

Perhaps with a new roommate-matching system, Pitt could do its best to prevent bullying and provide the most comfortable experience possible for its students.

Sexual orientation is part of a person’s character, just like race, religion or gender. Isn’t it time for colleges to start catering to students as distinguishable people?