Goldsmith puts LGBT program hall back in works

The proposal that disappeared is back in action

Peter Goldsmith continues to exhibit his influence within student affairs. The new dean of student life spoke to the housing and dining committee at their Oct. 28 meeting about developing a protocol for responding to student requests for new programmed living arrangements.

Goldsmith promises that the proposal for a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender program floor would not be handled under a new system. He hopes to expedite the decision on that proposal, which has been awaiting decision since last semester.

No formal etiquette currently exists for handling new programmed living spaces. "I asked them whether they would be interested in developing a process where students could apply as a group, in conjunction with faculty support, for residential space to be focused on a defined intellectual theme," said Goldsmith.

Goldsmith hopes that any new living arrangements will involve broadly conceived interdisciplinary academic interests in the arts, sciences, and international affairs beyond the classroom.

He said, "The hope would be that whatever goes on in that space contributes not only to the lives of the students living there, but also to the quality of life and educational experiences of the broader community."

The new dean of students also noted that he does not plan on evaluating already existing programmed houses. Any new system will act independently of existing residential spaces. "I stated quite explicitly my interest in developing a process related to the development of new residential arrangements, and it wasn't my intention to have any particular baring on existing program houses," said Goldsmith.

Several committee members, however, expressed their interest in including an evaluation of program houses in a new system. According to the official minutes from the meeting, they felt that programs should be evaluated based on their charters and stated goals. If they are not meeting those criteria, their space allocation should be reconsidered.

Although a new protocol would seem to factor into any decision made on the proposed LGBT theme hall, Goldsmith explained he had no intention of delaying a decision in that proposal. Goldsmith said, "This is a proposal that's been on the table since sometime last winter, and I would not necessarily want attention to this proposal to be tabled for as long as it might take to put some new protocol in place."

The committee did not discuss the item at their latest meeting, but information will be collected from institutions that have similar processes, and a draft will be prepared for the committee's consideration.

Goldsmith remained confident that the housing and dining committee would back his recommendation. "In principle, they were interested. It has the potential to bring students together over a very particular kind of common identity," said Goldsmith.