The Residence Halls Association should be commended for welcoming more voting representation for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students into its representation.
RHA already hosts a representative from the Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered Straight Ally Students. The group represents LBGT students both on and off campus.
But RHA has been making an effort to better represent the diversity of MSU students. For several years, the group has allotted voting seats to groups within the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students, which includes the alliance.
While the Black Student Alliance held a voting position on RHA, black caucuses were given five votes - one for each residence hall complex - in 1998.
The LBGTalliance has also held a seat on RHA for several years. But while the group represents all LBGT students, representatives from the five LBGT caucuses will speak specifically for the needs of their students living in the residence halls.
It is our hope these voices in RHA will help promote sensitivity and tolerance toward the LBGT community on campus.
For many students, life in the residence halls is the first time they encounter people of other races, ethnicities and sexual orientations. These groups provide education and awareness about issues.
The introduction of the caucuses in general has been a giant step forward, and has given LBGT students living in the residence halls a place to come together. It also gives them an outlet to bring up any problems they may encounter.
Safety, acceptance and comfort for LBGT students living on campus can be an important issue that the RHA should now be able to take into perspective.
The university should follow suit by committing itself to giving a voice to LBGT students, who haven’t been accommodated much in the past. The university only has one person in charge of LBGT concerns. That is not enough to accommodate the needs of these students.
Down the road LBGT residents should have the equivalent of Racial Ethnic Student Aides, someone to handle the issues that arise for them, and take care of their needs.
But for now, this provides the LBGT students with a way to make themselves heard. RHA has reached out to the LBGT community and made sure they know their votes count.
