Our Voice
Reality television harms youth
In recent news, an Illinois college became the first to ask undergrads if they were gay. Elmhurst College, a private liberal arts school in suburban Chicago has become the first college in the country to ask an optional question about a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity on an undergraduate application form. Elmhurst College is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.
According to CNN, the new Elmhurst College application asks, “Would you consider yourself a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community?” Students are given the option of answering “Yes,” “No,” or “Prefer not to say.”
Although this question is optional, does it push the limits of privacy? Is Elmhurst College asking too many personal questions on their undergraduate application? Would a new undergraduate feel obligated to answer this question, or would the majority answer with “Prefer not to say?”
A person should not feel obligated to answer this question about his or her personal life, and frankly it is not really anyone’s business. Sexual orientation is a personal matter, and no student should feel as though his or her sexuality is put on display.
A college or university should not have the right to ask such questions. It is incredibly invasive of one’s privacy. If a student coming from a conservative background where gender sexual minorities are not accepted, they may not be completely comfortable being confronted by the university about their sexual orientation.
However, it should be kept in mind that the sexual orientation question on the undergraduate application at Elmhurst College is optional. Students are not required to answer this question. This demographic question is among others about religious affiliation and what language is spoken in the home. These questions along with the sexual orientation question are designed to help Elmhurst College advance in diversity and connect new students with school resources like scholarships and campus organizations.
Georgia College, however, does not offer the optional question about sexual orientation, but there is an optional question on the undergraduate application concerning race.
Usually these types of questions are reported to federal and/or state agencies for civil rights compliance, and this is noted on GC’s application.
Georgia College and Elmhurst College relate, as they are both liberal arts schools. The idea arises that if one liberal arts school adds the personal question of sexual orientation, others will follow.
Universities and colleges dip into personal information about education, finances and family background, which should be enough to determine if a student will succeed. Dipping into personal information about one’s sexuality may place his or her in a student organization or allow one to receive a scholarship, but it should be his or her decision to whether or not he or she would like to be involved. Shoving an optional question in a perspective student’s face will only make one feel obligated to answer and/or make one feel uncomfortable. Perspective students are usually eager and excited, and most will feel obligated to answer this option sexual identity question truthfully.
Posted by 
