By Hannah Gray
Recently, it has come out that the University of Portland administration will no longer sign an inclusive certification of nondiscrimination regarding the GLBTQ - the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning - community.
What does this mean? It means the University can discriminate students, faculty and staff based on their sexual orientation. This doesn't mean that the University has or does discriminate, but it does mean that it can.
In past years, the University apparently has signed such statements to receive grants from the Northwest Health Foundation. However, recently, the University changed its mind and refuses to sign this standard certification of nondiscrimination, which includes a clause regarding sexual orientation.
It is upsetting that the University would so blatantly disregard this important issue of social justice.
Discrimination - on any level - is morally wrong.
The administration doesn't have to promote homosexuality, but it should uphold the idea that everyone deserves to be treated equally and fairly.
I believe it is the duty of the University, as a supposed Catholic leader, to stand up for civil rights everywhere.
It is also shocking that the University would chose to single out a specific group - the GLBTQ community. This refusal to sign a nondiscriminatory agreement is an instrument to oppress the GLBTQ community, and it is important to realize that the University is at the forefront of this oppression.
I wish the University would see the writing on the wall.
This isn't going to end well, and it shouldn't.
People don't have patience for inequality. The biggest issue is trying to understand the University's position and reasons why the administration has not been forthcoming with its rationale.
Anyway you wrap your mind around it, the end is the same - the University is securing its right to discriminate based on sexual orientation, for some unknown reason.
This is immoral and unjust.
This is a black mark on the University's history.
Hannah Gray is a reporter for
The Beacon and can be contacted at gray12@up.edu.
