UMSL reacts to curator's comment
Published Oct. 13, 2006
At an Oct. 5 board meeting, UM system Board of Curators member David Wasinger said he felt funding for "queer studies" courses was a misuse of university funding.
Angered faculty and students responded on Oct. 12 when the Faculty Senate at UM-St. Louis passed a resolution "rejecting all forms of bigotry, including homophobia."
The resolution was a result of the report to the senate given by Tim Farmer, associate professor of accounting and Faculty Senate chairman.
"I was prompted to report to the Faculty Senate after I had heard from all of the administrators, faculty members and student leaders who were angry about the remarks by a member of the Board of Curators," Farmer said.
The resolution states that UMSL rejects all forms of bigotry, that all students are entitled to a safe and inclusive environment and that the Faculty Senate supports student organizations that strive for diversity.
"With his comments, the curator was setting a tone about inclusiveness here on campus," Farmer said. "With this resolution, the faculty at UM-St. Louis wants to demonstrate to our student body that we are supportive of diversity and that one curator does not represent the whole of campus. We want to provide them with a comfortable environment in which to live and study."
David Greene, Student Services coordinator at UM-Kansas City, pointed out that what Wasinger labeled as "queer studies" is actually called "gender studies."
"The subject of gender studies is very important, and to say that it is unworthy of university funding is very offensive," Greene said.
Greene said a large portion of college dropouts leave universities because they do not feel included.
Greene said he felt Wasinger's remarks do not deserve a response.
"They were unintelligent words," Green said. "To say that it is meaningless to understand human sexuality is to completely leave out an integral part of understanding humanity."
Wasinger was unable to be reached for comment.