Extracurricular clubs are just another thing added to students’ everyday schedule. It’s where they meet friends, share interests, find new hobbies and create memories that last a lifetime. What if schools didn’t provide the right club need for their students? In 2007, out of almost 100,000 schools in America, only 3,000 of those schools had registered GSA clubs (“GLSEN Releases Research” para. 2 ). “GSAs are student-run clubs that aim to make the school community a safer place for all LGBTQ+ and straight students” (“Frequently Asked Questions” para. 2). Students are relying on these clubs to help them stand up against discrimination and to help the school understand and respect the LGBTQ+ community (“Districts Get Warning” para. 7). Despite …show more content…
Some people believe that GSA clubs pressure schools in allowing their existence because of the Federal Equal Access Act, which states that a school cannot refuse a Gay-Straight Alliance if that school allows other clubs to partake in activities (“Should Public Schools Allow GSAs” para. 1). GSAs do not ‘pressure’ any schools into acceptance. It’s under the control of the students and whether the student body wants the club to exist or not ;and ,by law, the school can not refuse that request. That’s almost like saying police ‘pressure’ people to follow the law by putting up speed limit signs. Diane Stewart, President of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, released a statement in response to Gay-Straight Alliances in schools, “A GSA is not about tolerance or safe schools; it is about promoting the homosexual life and spreading the message that ‘gay is okay’ (“Should Public Schools Allow GSAs” para. 3). GSA does not promote any ‘lifestyles’ whatsoever. It is a student’s choice on if they want to participate in GSA, so there is no pressure to attend any meetings GSA hosts. The entire idea of a GSA club is to create a safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth, so it would automatically abandon their values if they pressured people to join. Some people find excuses to justify their reasons when really they don’t understand, or want to understand, that Gay-Straight Alliance clubs are not here to …show more content…
Clubs are a fantastic way to try new things with people of similar interests. GSA is a substantial organization to establish in schools because it comes with the benefits every other club possesses. In a recent survey, it was found that only 3,000 schools out of 100,000 had official Gay-Straight Alliances (“Research Showing Benefits” para. 2). That number is clearly not enough. These clubs help students empathize among peers with similar values and help the school understand and respect the LGBTQ+ community (“Frequently Asked Questions” para. 2). GSAs are essential to student life because it supplies them with an outlet to be who they truly are without the fear of discrimination of
Student Club(s). The establishment student-run groups on campus through the support and alliances of the mental health organizations will help to raise awareness among the students. Examples include clubs such as “NAMI on Campus” and “Active Minds”. Since these are student-run clubs, these are usually low-budget establishments and the liaison with external organizations helps provide community resources for mental health services. This also provides a comfortable setting for students to open up about their problems with friends or groups and thus raise awareness and reduce the stigma. [11, 12]
Greek organizations are debatably the most undervalued and misconceived aspect of college campuses. Most people don’t see the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to college campuses and their communities. Some see these organizations as large beneficial clubs and others see them as potential problems. Many of the allegations put forth by individuals that discredit the benefits and good deeds done by Greek organizations are weak justifications for their removal from college campuses. Greek organizations provide campus communities with academically responsible students, philanthropic activities and increase community involvement.
Lukianoff, G. Foundation For Individual Rights in Education, (2007). Hampton university denies recognition to gay and lesbian student group without explanation. Retrieved from website: http://www.thefire.org/hampton-university-denies-recognition-to-gay-and-lesbian-student-group-without-explanation/
Sonnenblick, Melissa D. "The GALLS Club: Promoting Belonging Among At-Risk Adolescent Girls." The School Counselor 44 (1997): 243-245.
Single sex classes may help to break down stereotypes that the coeducational classroom may inadvertently reinforce. While attending single sex schools, students are more likely to excel in any subject, rather than limit ...
...were mentally ill or psychotic. Frank Kameny, a leader of the gay rights movement, perpetuated the idea that “Homosexuality is not a sickness…but is merely a preference, an orientation, or propensity, on par with, and not different in kind from, heterosexuality.” (Sherry Wolf, Sexuality and Socialism) Some schools even went as far as to create public safe spaces for gay students such as Columbia University’s Student Homophile League. Now, people are well aware of the presence of the LGBTQ community, and members are even trying to educate people who seem ignorant or bigoted. Many people currently dedicate a good portion of their lives to learning and teaching people about the gay rights movement and how it functions today. The community has evolved to include transgender, asexual, pansexual, and non binary people as well as a multitude of other labels and identities.
Brown, Tamara L., Gregory Parks, and Clarenda M. Phillips. African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2005. Print.
No one should have to be judged by what they want to be whether it is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or hetero-sexual we are all the same no matter what we feel on the inside. All most all schools say a girl cannot play a boy sport because they will get hurt; girls should be able to play whatever sport they want to know matter what the outcome may be. Also, every school has the rule no sexual relationship between teacher and students because they follow the rule of boundaries between teacher and student. Do you agree that students and teachers should not be able to date each other? Do you all agree that people should be allowed to date whoever they want? Do you hate feminism or do you agree with feminism? If we let these issues go with kids will continue to stay in the closet, never becoming who they truly are meant to be, and a teacher will hurt a
Currently in today’s society, coming out as gay is easier than admitting to a serious mental problem. This effect puts a burden on teens who suffer from problems and don’t know where to go; which led to the increase of teen suicides as seen in the media. In the average classroom size, about three of the twenty-four students have depression; not mentioning other common disorders such as bipolar disorder, panic disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, and eating disorders. Without better programs in schools to prevent and inform about mental disorders, the current taboo on them, the bullying of students suffering, and the romanticization of diseases will continue to increase the negative effect mental disorders have on teens.
During my time as a student at Case Western, I assisted and helped start a group known as Athletes and Allies. This group focused on promoting inclusiveness and understanding throughout the athletic community, as well as programs to assist any athlete having difficulty coming out or discussing issues faced in the Case community. The volleyball program is the only team trained in understanding and inclusivity, or “safe zone” trained. In the future, we hope to provide more safe zone training to all teams, as well as more programs and opportunities to the LGBT athlete community. As a physician, I yearn to advocate for the LGBT community just as I did at Case, and provide a source of relief and understanding for LGBT
Within recent decades, college has become a more easily available path than it has been for the past generations. In a current news release, The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that, “Of the 2.9 million youth age 16 to 24 who graduated from high school between January and October 2014, about 68.4 percent were enrolled in college in October” (BLS Economic News Release from April 2015). When a student graduates high school, most of them intend to continue on to college. They have the idea that, while there, they can break away from all the general classes and just focus on what they want to learn. However, for almost all students, they find that this is not the reality. Just like high school, they find that they have to take approximately two years in general studies in order to attend and graduate with the major of their choice. General education classes should not be required because a majority of the information learned has already been covered in past years. Most of the courses do not benefit a student 's major, and the total amount of required hours for these classes can become a big waste of time and money.
Colleges and Universities play a major role in developing the behavioral patterns of young adults. In addition to developing young minds, colleges help to cultivate character, responsibility, and social acceptable behavior. Students who attend Carlford have expressed their dissent with the current environment of the university. Because of these underling issues, Carlford’s retention rates amongst minorities have suffered. If Kirsten is unable to handle the situation, there will be a trickledown effect to all areas of the university. Being a new professional in the field of Higher Education can be challenge. There are times where an incident directly affects your position and there are other times where there issues that affect the entire institution. Because the issue directly pertains to Greek Life, the Coordinator of Fraternities and Sororities has the responsibility of identifying the concerns and implementing initiatives that will allow the college to be proactive in future situations of this nature.
There are valid arguments for the various racially "isolated" clubs in that they provide a support network and common identity for students who might otherwise feel culturally marooned on a campus as large as ours. (Specifically, I feel that the "Iranian Students Club," "Armenian Americans" and "Hillel House," to name a few, all provide emotional support to students away from home and their native culture.)
Have you ever heard of the gruesome Columbine High School massacre? This incident occurred on April 20th 1999 and involved two students embarking on a shooting rampage, killing twelve students, a teacher and wounding twenty three others. Unfortunately during this incident, the school's most easily accessible phone was on the other side of the school in the library. Perhaps some of these lives could have been saved if the students in this class had cell phones that they could've used to contact the authorities more quickly. The issue we are addressing today is the use of cellular devices in educational facilities. I believe that cell phone use is of extreme convenience, and has academically beneficial aspects, among it's so called "faults".
Picture this, there has been a school lockdown, the suspect cut the landlines so no one could call the police for a rescue. However, the suspect was captured by the police much faster than he imagined. The last scene wouldn’t have happened if it was one decade ago, because cell phones were not popular in schools then. When it comes to cell phones, some people think they should not be permitted in schools, and other people think they should be permitted in schools. I agree with the latter opinion for the following reasons: Cell phones are an efficient way to communicate when emergencies occur in school; cell phones can be a great tool for learning during school hours; and the current prohibitive rules on cell phones are merely fruitless efforts. Cell phones should be permitted in schools, because they could be very beneficial and practical in schools.