The University of La Verne’s mission statement promises to respect and uphold matters of diversity on campus and we at the Campus Times are pleased to report that such organizations as Rainbow Alliance, a group dedicated to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pride and awareness, are well supported by staff and faculty.

Both have ensured a welcoming environment to all students on campus despite sexual orientation.

However, the same could not be said for all fellow students.

A staff writer was recently sent on assignment to cover a Rainbow Alliance event and was surprisingly unable to coerce anyone, besides active club leaders and members, to go on record regarding his or her identity or personal reasons for attending.

By refusing to openly associate with the organization, these students seem to be responding to underlying currents of homophobia on campus.

The fact of the matter is that the University is the equivalent of a small town where everyone knows your name as well as your business - both a good and bad thing.

Some Rainbow Alliance members have struggled with the concept of “active membership,” which would naturally involve being both seen and heard on campus, as a result.

Those students who choose not to attend meetings are given the option of providing their e-mail addresses to club leaders to receive encrypted meeting minutes.

Their reasons for not openly participating in the organization have included scheduling conflicts as well as a need for privacy in the process of accepting and coming to terms with their sexual identities.

We at the Campus Times believe that if students as a whole were more accepting of homosexuality, those at meetings and/or open events, or even straight members of the group, called allies, would be less afraid to openly stand up for themselves and fight for a worthy cause.

But perhaps not all students are taking the fact that they are in an educational environment to heart.

By its very definition, an educational environment encourages growth and flourishes amid cultural and social differences.

Such an atmosphere is supposed to promote tolerance rather than discrimination and, in this sense, it is disappointing that some students are still made to feel ashamed of their identities, sexual or otherwise.

Homophobia stems from lack of knowledge and/or misunderstanding in general and ultimately prevents those questioning their sexual orientations from being themselves for fear of rejection and disrespect.

However, sexual orientation plays a very small role in overall character, having little impact on a person’s principles and aspirations.

With this in mind all students should openly welcome freedom of expression, rather than subjecting those considered to be different to hostile treatment based on stereotypical assumptions.

Though it is ultimately the choice of the individual to reveal his or her secrets, it would most likely be comforting for those struggling with the issue of homosexuality to know that acceptance would take the place of condemnation in fellow students’ eyes.

In an instructive atmosphere, we should all feel proud to be who we are and should openly support each other, not only in loyalty to the University’s mission statement, but also in loyalty to maintaining a feeling of community.

The Alliance will continue to do its part, speaking for those unwilling to speak for themselves, teaching acceptance and advocating equal treatment.

In the meantime, students should do their part as well; boosting membership morale by becoming allies to show their support.