🚀 go-pugleaf

While I sympathize with the motivation behind the note below, and think
that the question should be worded differently, I should point out that
there are occasions when a student who is not out to the rest of the class
comes out to a professor (perhaps to discuss reactions to readings which
address LGB issues).  I do agree however that it is none of our business
as instructors what our students' sexual preference is.

On Wed, 14 Jul 1993 J_FARRELL@UNHH.UNH.EDU wrote:

>         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
>