LETTER: Center provides education

Dear Editor,

Daniel Ames’ and Eric Chandler’s letters demonstrate precisely why Utah State University needs an office for gay and lesbian student services. This office provides resources for all students seeking information on sexual orientation issues, much as the Women’s Center, Disability Resource Center and Multicultural Student Services provide information on women’s, disability and multicultural issues, respectively.

The need for educational resources at USU is demonstrated by Mr. Chandler’s comparison of sexual orientation to sexual fetishes like S&M and bestiality. Furthermore, Mr. Ames characterizes gays and lesbians as people “defined solely based on their sexual activity.” If he had researched the issue, he would learn this is a gross over-simplification. Some gay people have sex, some don’t, just as some straight people have sex and others don’t. It depends on personal values and relationships.

Furthermore, if Mr. Ames and Mr. Chandler had listened to the many excellent speakers last Thursday in the TSC during National Coming Out Day, they would know the new office is funded entirely by private donors (all but one of whom were heterosexual).

Education is only one purpose of the new office. Another is to provide a supportive environment where students can be themselves and feel they are welcome at USU, where their differences are embraced, not scorned. Mr. Ames wrongly concludes a center would only serve to emphasize differences. In reality, the reason we have support services for certain populations is they are already singled out as different, especially in a place as homogeneous as USU. The university is obligated to do everything it can to ensure the success of every student. Students of the majority generally do not need support services directed specifically at them because society at large is their support. But if they do run into problems, there are services like the Academic Resource Center, Counseling Center, etc.

Many students, faculty, staff and administrators support this office and believe it will be an asset to USU. By continuing a dialogue on this issue, we can ensure this office provides services appropriate to the university’s academic mission.

Tim Nuttle