Emory Report

May 15, 2000

Volume 52, No. 33

President's Commission on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Concerns The final LGBT meeting of the academic year took place May 2 in 400 Administration Building. Several new members were welcomed to the commission, and copies of the revised bylaws were distributed. Since a quorum was not present (new members' voting privileges do not activate until the fall semester), no specific changes were approved. However, the commission decided to approve the changes over e-mail. Some of the proposed changes included: adding "Transgender" to the text of the bylaws (something that has been accepted in practice but had not yet been officially added to the bylaws), increasing the number of members, clarifying the language regarding gender parity and ensuring the representation of racial and ethnic minorities, and changing the leadership organization from co-chairs to chair/chair-elect (approved at the April meeting). The commission then revisited the Campus Climate Survey that was introduced at the April meeting. Emory was one of 30 universities selected by a researcher from Penn State to participate. The survey, which is being underwritten by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, will explore several aspects of campus life regarding diversity. The commission wants to bring the researcher, Susan Rankin, to campus for a meeting with the chairs of the other President's Commissions, as well as Bob Ethridge, vice president of Equal Opportunity Programs. In budget matters, the commission finished the year slightly over budget (by less than $80). Members agreed, however, that it was better to go over budget by a small amount than to leave money on the table. In other discussion, the commission agreed to follow up on the issue of adding the term "sexual orientation" to the University's official non-discrimination language contained in campus publications and applications. While discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is forbidden under Emory policy, some publications and applications have not yet added the language. LGBT also approved the language of the resolution passed by the University Senate urging the Georgia Legislature to remove the Confederate battle flag from the state flag. --Eric Rangus Return to May 15, 2000 contents page