AROUND HIGHER EDUCATION: Mo. students campaign for anti-discrimination measure

The Maneater COLUMBIA, Mo. (U-WIRE) -- A group of students in favor of adding a sexual-orientation clause to the University of Missouri system nondiscrimination policy has decided to increase the pressure on UM System President Manuel Pacheco and the Board of Curators. Pacheco is scheduled to make his recommendation or decision to the Curators January 29 in St. Louis. The nondiscrimination policy is the first action item on the Board of Curators' agenda. In response, the group of more than 20 students met last Thursday night at the Women's Center to discuss strategies for next week. Students' suggestions ranged from passing out handbills and talking in Speaker's Circle to chaining themselves to cars and protesting at the Curators' meeting next week. "Should we make a lot of noise?" asked Nikole Potulsky, co-coordinator of the Gay, Lesbian and Bi-Sexual Resource Center. "Personally, I say yes because if [the curators] are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that we aren't going away, they might be persuaded to approve the clause." Of course, the group's actions hinge upon Pacheco's decision. "If they say yes, we party wildly," said Martha Pickens, co-chairperson of the Missouri discrimination task force. If Pacheco speaks against adding the clause, however, members of the group plan to demonstrate against his decision. "If he says no, peaceful, direct action is planned," Potulsky said. There are two other distinct scenarios. Pacheco could recommend the clause not be adopted and instead ask for more publication of Executive Order No. 3, which is a blanket statement guaranteeing tolerance to all groups. Members of the group said they would consider this as bad as an outright refusal to add sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination clause. Another possibility is that Pacheco will ask for more time to review the clause before making any recommendation. In this case, group members said they will not be upset but will make it clear their patience is wearing thin. "People have been waiting a long time," senior Grant Bartle said. "How long do we have to wait?" Missouri Students Association President Todd Kennedy said it is long past time Missouri adds the clause. "It all comes down to tolerance," Kennedy said. "If we don't have tolerance, I don't think we have a foundation for an education that is valuable."