Eastern Michigan University was recently named one of the top gay-friendly universities in the country by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-friendly Campus Climate Index.
The Campus Climate Index was developed in 2001 by a team of LGBT researchers as a response to campuses needing a way to assess their LGBT-friendly practices and policies. It surveys colleges and universities nationwide, then gives a score in several LGBT-related categories and the eight LGBT-Friendly factors (policy inclusion; support and institutional commitment; student life; academic life; housing; campus safety; counseling and health; and recruitment and retention efforts).
EMU got perfect scores in five of the LGBT-Friendly factors, including LGBT policy inclusion, student life and counseling and health. That brought EMU’s average score to 4.5 out of 5 stars.
There are four universities in the state with a high gay-friendly rating, including the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.
The goals of the Campus Climate are to help improve LGBT life on college campuses and to help them become more LGBT-friendly.
The LBGT Resource Center on campus offers many educational and support services for people who are struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, or for those who want to understand more about the LGBT community.
Several events are also hosted by the LGBTRC to promote awareness and knowledge, most of which are annual, like OUTober and the Pride Prom.
Jess Mulcahy, a sociology and women’s and gender studies major who has been working at the LGBTRC for four years, agrees with EMU’s top ranking, saying it is “very reflective on how we treat LGBTQ students.”
As an incoming freshman, marketing major Taylor Charlefour was already informed about the resources offered about the LGBT community.
“I am aware that Eastern has an organization for LGBT,” Charlefour said. “It sounds very open and friendly and allows people to feel comfortable with who they are.”
Eastern professor Phil Simmons uses the curriculum in the theatre department to educate about LGBT, such as discussing several theatre movements that involve gay theatre and LGBT playwrights.
“As a theatre professor, I probably have more leeway to weave these issues into the class conversation,” Simmons said. “With several classes, we begin with discussions of topical issues, and LGBT topics are almost always in the news.”
The LGBT community reaches out to several student organizations, including Greek Life, with which it is in the process of planning an event, Mulcahy said.
Dustin Miller, a second-year senior majoring in theatre arts, tries to promote LGBT diversity through his student organization, Outbreak: Eastern.
As president and founder of the zombie tag group, Miller says Outbreak: Eastern has “a lot of collaborations planned and would love to get with LGBT and make some great things happen.”
EMU is filled with supportive staff and administration that are “continually working to make sure all are treated equally,” Mulcahy said.
Charlefour agreed, saying, “I think that Eastern is doing an excellent job in allowing students to be who they are and accept one another’s differences.”
Miller said the support of the LGBT community on other college campuses does not compare to what it’s like at EMU.
“Nowhere else have I seen such an acceptance and understanding of the LGBT community,” he said. “I’m so glad I’m on a campus where I feel so comfortable around every group of people I interact with.”
To Simmons, the rating is proof of growing acceptance.
“I’m thrilled we got such an amazing rating,” Simmons said. “It seems to me that with each passing generation, people care less and less about whether someone is LGBT.”
