Springfield college revises policy on nondiscrimination

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Southwest Missouri State University has adopted a revised nondiscrimination policy that does not include protection for sexual orientation.

The board of governors voted unanimously Friday to adopt the revised policy without the phrase "sexual orientation," despite advice from an Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee, which studied the issue for months and recommended the university include protection for sexual orientation in its policy.

But the president of Southwest Missouri State, John Keiser, disagreed with the advisory committee and offered his own version with sexual orientation eliminated from the policy, saying the wording in the current policy covered everyone who worked or went to school at Southwest Missouri State.

Supporters of a move to include sexual orientation in the policy said their fight isn't over.

"We have the momentum on this issue. They are defending a tired, old position," said professor Ralph Smith, one of five speakers who tried to persuade the board to add the words "sexual orientation" in order to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

For more than 40 minutes, the two sides exchanged their opinions, before a packed meeting room on why the words should be in or out.

Student representative Angela Dorrough, a senior at Southwest Missouri State and a nonvoting member of the board, said students have been coming to her office "upset and crying" about the issue.