a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
april 8, 2013 issue 22 ~ volume 98
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Is something missing? yet protected classes. In order to foster a more open and accepting environment, many colleges and universities implement a nondiscrimination policy. Many of these policies prohibit those institutions from making employment decisions based on NIKKI HAGER PLQRULW\ DIĂ€OLDWLRQV DV ZHOO DV Student Writer prohibiting universities from makor the past several weeks, ing acceptance to the institution much of America’s attention DIĂ€OLDWLRQ EDVHG has been focused on an issue that In fact, 81 of the top 88 US has been gaining momentum in re- News and World Report Top Unicent years: gay marriage. versities have a nondiscrimination Facebook was plastered with policy that includes sexual oriUHG SURĂ€OH SLFWXUHV DQG SRVWV UH- entation. Of the seven remaining acting to the pending Supreme schools, most have a very strong Court cases regarding the Defense UHOLJLRXV DIĂ€OLDWLRQ ([DPSOHV LQof Marriage Act and California’s clude Notre Dame and Brigham Proposition 8, two laws which re- Young University. strict gay marriage. For instance, Rice University These landmark cases have the “does not discriminate against potential to overhaul how the fed- individuals on the basis of race, HUDO JRYHUQPHQW GHĂ€QHV PDUULDJH color, religion, sex, sexual orienWhile the country waits for the tation, gender identity, national Supreme Court’s decision, Pride, or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, the University of Tulsa’s bisexual, disability, or veteran status in its lesbian, gay, transgender, queer admissions, its educational proand straight organization, is work- grams, or employment.â€? ing with a Student Association TU, with the exception of the senator to request revision of the School of Law, lacks a nondisuniversity’s anti-discrimination crimination policy entirely. statutes. The Student Code of Conduct TU currently lacks a policy pre- under the General Standard of venting discrimination based upon Conduct Policy section refersexual orientation. ences a nondiscrimination policy: Under current federal law, em- “Activities that violate University ployers and universities are not al- policies of nondiscrimination in lowed to discriminate based on in- regard tolerance, religion, national GLYLGXDOV¡ DIĂ€OLDWLRQ ZLWK D YDULHW\ origin, ethnic origin, age, gender, of characteristics including race, handicap, or status as a veteran‌â€? religion, sex, age, medical condi- However, the Department of Hution and pregnancy. man Resources was unable to proHowever, sexual orientation vide the text of any such policy and gender identity groups are not when contacted.
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In contrast, the TU School of Law does have a nondiscrimination policy in place. It was passed several years ago in order to meet accreditation standards, according WR WKH ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU RI 8QLWed Campus Ministries, Reverend 1DQF\ (JJHQ TU does, however, have other anti-discrimination policies. There is a nonharassment policy, as well as an equal opportunity policy and VHYHUDO DIĂ€UPDWLYH DFWLRQ SROLFLHV ZKLFK SURWHFW FODVVHV VSHFLĂ€HG XQder state and federal law. However, JURXSV DIĂ€OLDWHG ZLWK sexual orientation and gender identity are not legally protected classes. Under current TU policy, VWDII FRXOG SRWHQWLDOO\ EH Ă€UHG RU denied employment because they identify with a certain sexual orientation or gender identity. The lack of a nondiscrimination policy also affects future students. While current students may feel that TU is a very welcoming community to minority students, prospective students have no way of knowing this, according to Pride President Zachary Harvat. They may turn to university policies to determine if they will feel safe and accepted. Harvat was very concerned when he learned that these groups were not protected classes under the current policy. “While , Ă€QG 78 D YHU\ RSHQ and accepting environment, I GRQ¡W WKLQN WKDW LW¡V UHĂ HFWHG LQ WKH current policy,â€? Harvat said. “I don’t think that it would ever happen,â€? Harvat continued, “but it bothers me that faculty and staff FDQ EH Ă€UHG EHFDXVH RI WKHLU VH[XDO
orientation and gender identity.â€? Marty Phillips of the Human Resources Department described several staff reaction to the policy. “Three separate people in equality service each contacted me after they took the harassment training,â€? Phillips said, “and said they were disappointed that the policy ZDV QRW VSHFLĂ€F DQG QRW LQFOXVLYH with LGBT individuals.â€? Harvat and the rest of Pride are working along with SA Senator Whitney House to draft legislation that would protect sexual orientation and gender identity.
Since the university does not KDYH DQ RIĂ€FLDO QRQGLVFULPLQDWLRQ policy, House believes it is likely that SA will pursue a policy that adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the equal opportunity policy. In 2005 SA attempted to pass similar legislation. While it did pass in SA Senate, the legislation was never signed by President Steadman Upham. While the administration was unable to provide a concrete
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Kendall-ÂWhittier  Testing Kendall-ÂWhittier  Elementary  will  begin  state  testing  soon  and  many  volunteers  are  needed  to  monitor  class  rooms.  Volunteers  are  needed  April  10,  11,  12,  &  16  from  8:15–11:30  and  April  17,  18,  &  19  from  8:15–11:30. Children’s  Book  Drive Reading  is  the  foundation  for  success  in  school  and  life,  yet  many  children  do  not  have  books  within  their  homes.  April  1–April  12  we  will  be  collecting  books  for  Pre-ÂK  thru  6th  grade  to  benefit  the  Lighthouse  Charter  School  in  north  Tulsa.  Collection  bins  will  be  placed  in  Chapman  Hall,  Helmerich  Hall,  McFarlin  Library,  McClure  Hall,  Collins  Hall,  Oliphant  Hall,  Holmes  Student  Center,  the  Blue  House,  and  the  University  School. National  Volunteer  Week  is  April  22–April  26.  Watch  for  upcoming  opportunities.  Recording  Volunteer  Hours If  you  or  your  organization  has  completed  service/volunteer  hours  this  academic  year,  please  go  to  www.utulsa.edu/tbn  and  select  Recording  Volunteer  Hours.  Anyone  interested  in  any  of  these  or  other  volunteer  opportunities  should  contact  Kathy  Shelton  in  the  True  Blue  Neighbor  Volunteer  Center  at  kathy-Âshelton@utulsa.edu