<p><a href=“http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/college-freshmen-in-california-could-be-asked-to-declare-sexual-orientation/[/url]”>http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/college-freshmen-in-california-could-be-asked-to-declare-sexual-orientation/</a></p>
<p>This is totally worth the inevitable ensuing lawsuits.</p>
<p>I suppose I’m okay with this.</p>
<p>Orientation is such a complicated issue, and a lot of people may have trouble checking a box (for some, orientation is quite fluid), similar to the difficulties many have checking a box for ethnicity. But sexual orientation is honestly a lot more personal and a lot more complicated. Guess they could always add an “other” checkbox.</p>
<p>If they consider orientation when assigning roommates I definitely have a problem with that.</p>
<p>I’m not sure everyone will be very comfortable revealing their sexual orientation on their SIR though. What if you’re not sure or just unwilling to make it public? An anonymous (but compulsory) survey, where the questions are definitely decoupled from identity, would provide statistics and confidentiality.</p>
<p>Down in the article, it does say that the CSUs and community colleges are required by state law to collect the information, but UCs are only requested to.</p>
<p>Berkeley does survey freshmen with the question about sexual orientation (question 14 in the results below):</p>
<p>[New</a> Students 2011: Freshmen Part 2](<a href=“http://opa.berkeley.edu/surveys/freshmen/2011/2011Part2.html]New”>http://opa.berkeley.edu/surveys/freshmen/2011/2011Part2.html)</p>
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<p>^^Yeah I could see that working. Still not really sure why they want or need this data. They claim it would help “ensure that there are services in place for LGBT students.” Why do they need this data? There are LGBT students in the UCs. There are plenty of services, especially here at Cal, one of the gay friendliest schools in the nation.</p>
<p>Also, just as an aside, percentages on sexual identity are always incredibly misleading, simply because so many people are either a) confused or b) in denial/in the closet.</p>
<p>IF the UCs decide to ask the question, the students will always have the option to decline to answer. The question would be asked on SIRs for ALL UCs, not just Cal. The cost of providing services to 300 LGBT students vs. 3,000 LGBT students is very different and having some form of data will help the campuses plan their budget better.</p>