Admissions edge for LGBT applicants?

Since the institution of affirmative action more than 40 years ago, American colleges have been working to diversify their campuses, increasing the likelihood of enrollment for students who have suffered discrimination or economic hardship.

Two weeks ago, Middlebury College took this process one step further, implementing a policy through which students who identify themselves as gay will receive the same benefits in the admissions process as ethnic minorities, athletes and legacies.

While no college has yet matched Middlebury's policy, several, such as Claremont McKenna and Loyola University in New Orleans, are seriously considering it.

Princeton's Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye declined to comment on whether the University will make this move but emphasized the University's commitment to diversity in all its forms.

"We value students from all backgrounds, and diversity has a broad definition for our work," she said in an email.

"In terms of the admissions process, we give students every consideration if they have a diverse background including students who are gay, or who may be involved in LGBT groups in their high schools, communities or national organizations."

Princeton was recently named one of the top 20 campuses for LGBT students in The Advocate magazine's "College Guide for LGBT Students." It is also one of only 100 schools in the country with full-time professional LGBT coordinators or directors.

Several members of the LGBT community said an affirmative action program might not be necessary here.

"I don't think LGBT students have been marginalized in the same way that other groups have," LGBT Center Director Debbie Bazarsky said. "There are LGBT students of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds."

Some LGBT students also are concerned about the effects such a policy could have. "People tend to question your merit when you are a minority or your parents graduated from a school," said Yujhan Claros '10, who is gay. "I don't know if I want that for the LGBT community."

One potential problem with the policy is the difficulty of filtering out straight students who check the box just to earn an extra edge. Bazarsky, however, thought this wouldn't be an issue.

"There is still such a negative association with being an LGBT student that I don't see high school students saying they were gay or lesbian just to give themselves an advantage," she said.

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Regardless of whether Princeton adopts Middlebury's policy, the admissions team has been actively recruiting LGBT students for several years, attending college fairs for gay students, Rapelye said.

Because of such recruitment and active efforts to include LGBT activities in campus life, most students seem satisfied with how things stand on campus.

"In applying, I had some serious reservations about the presence of the LGBT community," Claros said. "Now that I am here, I see that I was really wrong. Awareness and representation on campus are solid."