LETTER: Where’s my scholarship?

Editor,

With little hope I dropped off my scholarship application at the political science department in Old Main. I am majoring in international studies, a degree that has been tossed around and found itself in the poli-sci department this semester.

The problem is there are no available scholarships for me because I am not technically a political science major. So, I am left alone with recently adopted, but otherwise orphaned, international studies major.

It wasn’t until Monday’s issue of The Statesman when there was a brief titled: GLBT Scholarships Now Available. GLBT is an acronym for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trangendered persons. Applications are being accepted right now for three scholarships of $1,000 each.

If you’re like me, you probably wonder what makes someone eligible for this scholarship. The article says, “Eligible applicants must openly identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.” I am not sure if that implies I kiss another man or show my recent scars from surgery to an acceptance committee. Whatever it is, I don’t think I am eligible.

So once again I find myself without an academic scholarship made for me. Why doesn’t some private investor or the ACLU come to my need, I’m a bald 23-year-old male who prefers women. I don’t feel scholarships should be given for someone’s sexual preference or soon we will see scholarships available to men who prefer little boys, and cousins who prefer cousins.

Gregory Scott Paul