🚀 go-pugleaf

        I think Mr. Slagle's inquiry is well intentioned, and not
        I think Mr. Slagle's inquiry is well intentioned, and no
doubt part of a carefully designed research project.  Nevertheless,
his question #8 seemed rather peculiar.  Upon what basis should a
public speaking instructor "suspect" that a student is gay, lesbian,
or bi-sexual?  Apart from the occasionally courageous student who
comes out in the classroom, in front of her/his peers, why should a
faculty member even be concerned about the sexual orientation of his/
her students.  And should the issue be of interest to a faculty member,
how does Mr. Slagle propose that a professor make the determination?
The affirmative action rules of most Universities would forbid such
an inquiry (as would common sense and respect for privacy).  So, Mr.
Slagle, at the risk of reinforcing old stereotypes, has the burden to
supply us with clues we can use as the basis for a "suspicion" that a
student is gay or lesbian or bi-sexual.
        Frankly, I think this was a stupid question to ask.  I don't
think faculty should ever be in the position of "suspecting" anything
of a personal nature about their students.  Short of determining whether
a person has read an assignment, or done a capable job giving a particular
type of speech, faculty should be making no judgments about their students
--especially about a student's sexual life.  That is not to say faculty
shouldn't be sensitive to the fact that students in their class may
represent very diverse cultural, political, social attitudes--most of which
will not be signaled by anything as obvious as skin color, or accent.  It
is just that the idea that faculty should make it their business to try
is just that the idea that faculty should make it their business to
"suspect" their students of being gay, Catholic, communist, or anything
else is a rather uncomfortable notion to me.
        No personal offense intended, Mr. Slagle.  Any other thoughts
on this out there?

                Jim Farrell
                Dept. of Communication
                Univ. of New Hampshire