MOREHOUSE NEW POLICY: WHAT WILL THE FUTURE TELL?
The historical black all male institution has passed a bill that will allow transgender males to enroll in the fall 2020 semester
Whenever we think of Morehouse College, we think of a heaven of educated black men. An institution that focuses on molding young African American males into world leaders. The historical black college has been known to being the gateway of change and community; the former which serves as a major factor in the school’s future.
On April 9, 2019, Morehouse College has announced that it would begin admitting transgender men in the fall semester of 2020. The policy states that that Morehouse will consider undergraduate applications for the ones whom either live or identify as a male, regardless of their physical gender.
The administration has proudly expressed their thoughts on their historic step in improving their institution.
“I think Morehouse having the courage to speak to issues of masculinity in today’s environment is important,” Morehouse president David Thomas quoted during an interview with the Association Press. “For 152 years, the world has, in some way, seen Morehouse as the West Point of black male development.”
Regardless of what the President feels, some students believe the policy contradicts to the true morals that Mother Morehouse displayed on campus grounds.
“It’s bulls — -t and it is hypocritical to the constitution of this school” quoted Adryan Dodson Days, junior Psychology major.
Some students are having a hard time understanding the transition from Morehouse being an all man school, that strives to help young men achieve success to becoming a place to enroll transgender students.
A current student, who refuses to be named in this article, expresses his disbelief in the school’s new rule; believing that the institution as an entirety shows less concern for the student body.
“It’s basically a money game for them. At the end of the day they do not care about the ones that go to this school.”
There have been some students expressing their concern with the policy, by explaining past issues dealing with sexual assault cases that has been hovering over the school.
“The sexual assault rate for women is high, and at the end of the day these ‘supposed’ men are still women,” says another unnamed student. “Some of these guys do not have respect for anything here, and there will be another case flying around Brown Street.”
Not only hasthis has become a issue, but the notion that follows has also raised eyebrows. Yes, this may be a good step, but some believe that other ignored while an landmark decision is being written.
“Morehouse really need to focus on their students” says another student. “At the end of the day there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. I feel as though they more concerned with having publicity, then showing humility.”
There are conflicting thoughts on the new policy. It has become a notion of change for the goodness of the school by the administration, yet it has became a thought of disappointment by the some pupils in the student population. Yes, there is victory for the LGTBQA community, but what about the current issues in the institution that needs to be addressed. The development of this new rule have proven that change can be made for Morehouse, but how will it come to fruition where the head officials main concern is about public image.
Jalen Harrison Lovemore, Morehouse’20. Film Major.
