What’s that old saying your grandma would repeat to you when you were a child and you had misbehaved? My grandma, in her own loving way, would simply say, “to each his own.” While considering the LGBT issue, my grandmother’s aforementioned saying has been ringing in my ears. I think I speak for a large number, I’d argue a majority, of students on this campus when I say that my personal views toward homosexuals or transgender people are somewhere around indifferent. Personally I do think that people should have their own personal freedoms whether they are artistic freedoms, property rights or sexual freedoms. I may not agree with a certain lifestyle but I try not to judge — to each his own.
That being said I have many concerns about the center. First, students at N.C. State agree that college costs are high. Books, WebAssign fees, rent, parking and food all add up. Though I recognize the value of the public education we’re receiving here, I also don’t want to see anyone have to write a check to this University for tuition and fees that is higher than it has to be. Recently, I was appointed Chair of the Student Senate Tuition and Fees Committee and in this position I’ve learned that there is a fee for almost everything on this campus. I have heard estimates about initial costs for the center being in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, not including staffing expenses, which would add to the cost. If a penny of that money came out of student fees, I think it would be a travesty.
Think about it: A facility to provide support and counseling to homosexual and transgender people, a group of people who many find morally questionable, is being paid for by all students regardless of their views. It seems to me that if someone were to think homosexuality is wrong for religious or moral reasons it wouldn’t be fair to ask them to help pay for a center for their benefit. That would be akin to passing around a collection plate at a Catholic church to benefit a local abortion clinic. Of course the difference in that ludicrous example is that the parishioners would have the option to contribute. However, fees must be paid by all students.
Other plans for funding have suggested that a more general source would provide the necessary moneys to operate the facility. I’d still argue that any University money that went to operating the facility would be money out of our pockets. That same money could be used for a whole host of other things that would better benefit the general population on campus.
Aside from funding issues, I question the usefulness of the center itself. I believe the mission statement that I’ve heard kicked around by supporters is something heady like, ‘to unite all.’ I truly don’t think the center would unite anyone except the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities on campus. Honestly, how often would a straight guy walk in that center just to see what’s going on?
Also, there are already counseling services set up to help these people of different sexual orientation deal with adjusting to college life. As a matter of a fact, there is a graduate student assistant that works with the current gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual groups on campus. He or she receives a salary from the University and office space to help plan events and counsel homosexual students. If you ask me that position and service goes beyond the responsibility of the University to create a satisfactory learning environment for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals.
Personally, I feel like the whole process of building, opening and utilizing the center will create more division as folks have their attention called to it. After all, we’re now in our second academic year discussing this proposal with little progress. Wouldn’t it be nice if the University put as much time and energy into reducing textbook prices as they have in coddling a very small group on campus?
