TCU Nixes Gay-Friendly Housing Plan
By STACY MORROW
Updated 5:46 PM CDT, Mon, Apr 13, 2009
Texas Christian University is reneging on its plan to add gay-friendly and other themed housing communities in the fall.
The move comes one week after the Fort Worth college's decision to establish DiversCity Q sparked a national debate. The living community designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students and heterosexual students who support them was slated to open in a section of the Tom Brown-Pete Wright apartments.
"TCU will not launch any new living learning communities at this time," Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said in a statement released Monday. "Instead we will assess whether the concept of housing residential students based on themes supports the academic mission of the institution, as well as our objective to provide a total university experience."
The university had also planned to open two Christian-based groups, a fine-arts living group and three other communities.
Shelly Newkirk, a sophomore who applied to create DiversCity Q, told the Star-Telegram that eight students had lined up to join the community.
A committee of faculty, staff and students will review the living learning community concept and make recommendations for the program's guidelines, Boschini said.
He said the university's current themed housing communities, which focus on the environment, student leadership and healthy living, will be allowed to continue until new guidelines are determined.
First Published: Apr 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT
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