Dear Readers,

The establishment of a free standing center for Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Transgender students on this campus moves ever closer to reality. Indeed, in mid-October the NC State Student Senate passed a resolution in support of the proposition, claiming that such an institution would raise NC State’s stature in the eyes of the general public.

Funding for the center, which is estimated to cost around $150,000, is slated to come from the University’s general fund as well as student fees. Citing the latter fact, opponents of the GBLT center say that funding such a center through mandatory student fees would force them to support a lifestyle they find morally objectionable.

Here, it should be noted, that the opponents have a good point – a point that highlights the absurdity of Student Government’s system of coercion. Of course, supporters of the GBLT center claim that those who make a principled argument against the center from the standpoint of opposition to coercion are merely covering up for bigoted attitudes.

“Many of the students against the [GBLT Center] are hiding behind money and the student fees issue,” writes Matt Comer, a GBLT activist and student at UNC-Greensboro. “What if,” Comer asks, attempting to torpedo the logic of opponents of the GBLT center, “Democratic students wanted to keep their money from funding Republican student activities, or vice versa?”

Answer: The Democrats, the Republicans, the GBLT community, or any other group would have to fund their agenda through bake sales, direct mail campaigns, and other fundraising techniques. In this system hard work and volunteerism would be rewarded as opposed to political patronage.

Working with supporters in the private sector, it is conceivable that a GBLT center could be established without using mandatory student fees, but for the most ardent advocates of this center merely having one isn’t enough. They want students opposed to the homosexual lifestyle to be forced into supporting it. While this movement marches under the banner of “tolerance” and “diversity” coercion and intimidation are its true handmaidens.


James R. Lawrence

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