Huffington Magazine Issue 63 | Page 34

Voices every institution of higher learning can readily cope with any number of diverse aspects of potential students’ lives. Does a robust counseling department exist? Are there faculty members who are equipped both in their disciplines and in sensitivity training? Are there support organizations on campus? These questions don’t even need to be limited to the LGBT experience. These are questions and qualifications that should be put to every institution that is committed to educating the populace. We’re a diverse country. Let›s try acting like it. Wake Forest isn’t perfect. No school is. Based on my personal experience, I’d say that more certainly can be done at Wake Forest and elsewhere. But rankings in general should always be taken with a grain of salt and an immense amount of scrutiny. Here’s what I believe to be true: LGBT students should feel free to go to college anywhere. LGBT people are everywhere, so they shouldn’t feel that any ranking prohibits them from going where they feel most comfortable. We need to stop ranking things and instead focus on making progress occur wherever it is TRÉ EASTON HUFFINGTON 08.25.13 necessary. Lest we forget, Prop 8 passed in the progressive utopia that is California. Where’s the ranking that explains that? The Princeton Review needs some serious reviewing when it comes to LGBT issues on campus. Perhaps they should look to the good people at Campus Pride for some guidance. Or maybe they should end this particular ranking altogether. Just a thought. Assigning schools the moniker of ‘LGBT-unfriendly,’ which only functions to ensure that LGBT students will never venture to these places… is offensive.” Whatever The Princeton Review does, they need to think twice before perpetuating more of this nonsense in the public arena. I’d much rather be called “faggot” every day for the rest of my life than live with this misinformation being bandied about. Do better, Princeton Review. Do so much better. Tré Easton is a writer and political activist living in Washington, D.C.