At a public university that prides itself on diversity, it's about time for those with different gender identities to get the respect and protection they deserve.

At the first Academic Council meeting of the school year, council members approved a proposed amendment to MSU's anti-discrimination policy which would add gender identity to the harassment section of the policy.

Gender identity is not one's sexual orientation. It is the identity - male or female - that one chooses to live by regardless of the body one is born in.

An original amendment proposal, which surfaced a year ago, would have protected gender identity by adding it to both the discrimination and harassment sections.

Despite being initially approved by the council when it was submitted in the spring, it was ultimately overturned by MSU President M. Peter McPherson. The original proposal should not have been denied.

Even a year ago, the university's anti-discrimination policy was long overdue in including protection for gender identity.

The proposal has already been in the works for over a year and now it is facing the possible risk of having its acceptance delayed again.

The reformulated, proposed amendment awaits McPherson's approval before being placed in front of the MSU Board of Trustees.

When McPherson first saw the proposal he said he wanted the matter to be discussed further and studied before he would give it his stamp of approval.

While this does not mean he is opposed to the amendment, hopefully this re-evaluation will be enough discussion for the university president.

Gender identity is an issue that needs to be fully and formally recognized by the university.

The new proposal is the university's chance to put its money where its mouth is - by proving that the risk of litigation is worth being able to say that it is an institution willing to protect its own diversity.

The original proposal should not have been overturned in the first place, but the university now has a chance to redeem itself.

Because the new proposal has been reformulated to only add gender identity to the harassment section and not the discrimination section, transgender individuals are not protected against discrimination during the hiring process at MSU.

But despite the changes, the proposal is still a step toward fair treatment for transgender individuals. At this point, the amendment should not even be in question anymore - MSU needs its anti-discrimination policy to cover transgender individuals.

MSU is an institution that prides itself on its diversity.

By passing the amendment, the university will live up to the reputation it has created for itself.

It will also be taking an important step toward eradicating social stereotypes.

Approving the amendment is a win-win situation.