News & Notes: Penn recruits gay students

Officials at Penn described the movement as part of the school’s efforts to reach out to a diverse set of potential undergraduates.

Eric Furda, dean of admissions at Penn, said in an interview with USA Today that students would not be accepted solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. Rather, he said, “the university is looking for admitted applicants who have indicated in some way that gay issues are very important in their considerations.”

The application does not explicitly ask about students’ sexual orientation.

In a recent editorial, the Opinion Board of The Daily Pennsylvanian — the school’s student newspaper — praised the move but urged the university to take a cautious approach. “Many LGBT students are not fully out of the closet or may not want to make a big deal about their sexual orientation,” the editorial said.