Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Texas passes legislature for traditional values centers
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2011/04/03/texas-consider-traditional-values-centers-state-universities
Texas recently passed legislature that would require "a university that has a "gender and sexuality center" to equally fund a center that teaches 'traditional values'."
Renn's article for today's class has this quote:
The professor "asks whether the parents and taxpayers of the state of __ shouldn't have some say in whether or not they pay for and therefore enable students to engage in activities they find morally questionable.
Although Renn's article referrs to the curriculum, given how LGBT resouce centers can impact campus climate, I would like to hear what the rest of our class have to say. I find it very offensive how this legislature basically says "traditional" values are defined by one's sexuality and how it continues to privilege heteronormativity.
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Overall I enjoyed reading this article. Drawing on the “heteronormativity” of our society, I believe this piece ties directly into our recent class discussion on privilege. It does an excellent job of displaying how many people with privilege are not aware of their privilege. To suggest that there should be a “traditional views” center for every LGBT center is ridiculous. As much as I would like to believe that this bill would not survive the reconciliation process, I must remind myself that we’re talking about one of the most conservative states in the country.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and comment.
ReplyDeleteWhat immediately comes to my mind when i read this was the purpose behind student offices/resources/centers. Is the purpose of the 'traditional values' center to celebrate and honor students who identify with 'traditional values'? (the concept/terminology of 'traditional’ is obviously problematic, as it marginalizes all others who do not share the same values -or more so what those values are associated with)
For myself, i see the establishment of a 'traditional values' center as a reaction to other student centers, as a way to counter/balance other student groups. This is much different than the purpose of simply celebrating your own identities and beliefs.
Did the japanese club on campus develop as a way to 'balance out' the chinese club... i think not. They developed to celebrate/support who they are.
Bottom line, i think that the purpose and intentions of the 'traditional values' center needs to be investigated (although that does not hold any weight in whether it actualizes).
Of course, as americans, it may be a traditional value to oppose other groups of people under the guise of values, such as ‘liberty’… HIYO!
The part I found very interesting in this (and in many other arguments that people make) is the part about the taxpayers. Does this mean that taxpayers that believe in the gender/sexuality center shouldn’t have to pay for the other center? Interesting how people always assume that these ‘other non-traditional’ groups are not paying taxes…or that their taxes should only go towards ‘traditional’ items.
ReplyDeleteIt made me think about the post that I just put on the blog---the war veteran who thought that they shouldn’t be paying for ‘minority’ students to go to college, including undocumented…through Pell Grants (undocumented students are not eligible for Pell Grants because it is Federal Aid, so this is a preconceived idea that many may have…and the fact that undocumented people don’t pay taxes). Should people who oppose war pay for war and pay the salaries and tuition and other fees for those fighting in the war? Well they do…one of the main sells of armed services is free tuition…last time I checked that was from tax $ that we all pay, regardless of how we feel.
I think that colleges need to be careful when allowing clubs and centers. While groups should celebrate their views and beliefs, it should not be against another group, in opposition…that breeds hate. 'Traditional' and 'normal' are definitely words that are problematic when referring to one group, because as Chris stated, it negatively refers to the other groups as un-traditional and not normal. John you make a good point…clubs are created to celebrate something, not to counteract something else. Even looking at the Chief issue on our campus, there were two sides to the issue so clubs were created by each for those issues…but I don’t think they were in reaction to each other in the same way.
This post also reminds me of high school, where we had so many groups to celebrate differences, for ones to come together to feel appreciated and accepted and a group of students wanted to start a "white/caucasian" group. In most cases, when such groups are formed it becomes a group of hatred. I believed that to be so in this case with a "traditional center" it wont be a group of celebration, but a group where students and colleagues share similar ideas, that are likely to form and agree on concepts and ideas that are of hate. Basically ideas and concepts that dont support diversity.
ReplyDelete