Approximately 35 schools participated in a college fair that reached out to LGBT high school students and their families Sept. 24 at the Center on Halsted.
Representatives from various schools through the Midwest, East and South answered questions covering everything from financial aid to class sizes to LGBT resources.
The colleges and universities themselves were diverse, with representatives for larger institutions such as the Big 10 schools Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, Indiana University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln next to tables for Carleton, Knox, Warren Wilson and Elon colleges and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
As one might expect, different schools have various enticements to offer. On a more general level, Colorado College, for example, has a block plan in which students can take a different subject every three and a half weeks instead of balancing several classes throughout a semester. The University of Rochester has no required subjects, letting students build their own academic paths.
The hot topic at the fair seemed to center around Elmhurst College, which has become the first college in the nation to directly ask applicants if they're LGBT. ( Reps for Elmhurst referred Windy City Times to Gary Rold, director of admissions, for a statement about feedback to the development. He emailed, "The feedback on the LGBT Question has been favorable for the most part. The faculty and staff of the College are supportive and the students I've heard from have had good things to say. The College's student newspaper printed a very positive editorial about the question.
"There have, of course been some people, mostly those not connected with Elmhurst, who have expressed reservations about what they see as favoritism to the LGBT community. We feel we are being inclusive rather than exclusive by wanting to identify gay and lesbian students to aid in their transition to college life at Elmhurst. We already [ do ] this with other students planning to attend Elmhurst." )
Almost everyone Windy City Times asked about the topic thought it was a positive move. However, Ari Shroyer, a political science major at Roosevelt University, is "a big fan" of the question, but suggested something else: "I would be more in favor of asking if you're just interested in the information. So an individual wouldn't necessary have [ to be designated ] as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. That [ question ] includes allies, too."
Nikita Burks of Campus Pride, the organization behind this event, said of Elmhurst's question, "I believe that it's a great opportunity. It's great for those who are out and proud to have that support." When asked if that could backfirewith some people who are not out retreating even further into the closetshe said, "There may be, and that's why there is that choice. But there'll be that supportive environment when they're ready."
Some of the smaller institutions are, not surprisingly, in more socially welcome areas. "It's really interesting where we're place," said a rep for Warren Wilson College. "Asheville [ N.C. ] is this liberal mecca in the South. It's a really interesting community ... and we're definitely known as a very liberal college."
Symone and Danielle Simmons, who are now married, met at Iowa State University. When asked why LGBT students would want to go to the school, Danielle initially answered, "To find the love of your life." Symone added, "You feel like people genuinely care about you."
As for the fair itself, Paul Sapp, a transfer coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa, said, "I think it's a message to the LGBT high-school population that we value them, that we want them as students, that we take them seriously."
Burks said that there was a similar fair conducted years ago and organizers thought it was time to bring it back. She said she was pleased with the number of people who attended.