New student union examines diversity, including sexual orientations

June 10, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - A new student club at Palmer High School is entering uncharted territory in the Mat-Su Borough School District with its goal to promote many forms of diversity, including acceptance and respect of different sexual orientations such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Sexual orientation is one, albeit the most controversial, of many differences the Student Diversity Union of Palmer High aims to celebrate.

The club also promotes tolerance for racial, religious, ethnic and national differences.

Appealing to

a broader base

The group first formed in late February and met Fridays during lunch in a school classroom.

The stated goals of the club are to unite and strengthen the school community by "accepting, respecting and celebrating our differences."

By not limiting the club to one particular issue, club members, who number about 10, hope a diverse group of students will participate in club activities.

The student who pushed for the formation of the club requested, for personal and family reasons, to remain anonymous for the article. The student is a 2005 Palmer High graduate and former president of the club.

He initially wanted to form a more narrowly focused Gay/Straight Alliance club.

"It was a thought to possibly start a GSA originally, however, I thought it was selfish to some degree to start a club that focused on the situation of one group of people when everyone is connected to so many different groups of people," he said in an interview at Palmer High School last week.

"It seemed to almost go against the goals of that possible club," he said.

Club causes school district pause

George Troxel, the Mat-Su School District's assistant superintendent of curriculum and assessment, said the district, too, was a little hesitant about allowing a Gay/Straight Alliance, although he said a GSA would likely be an acceptable club under current board policy.

"The hesitation was based on what can we do and what can't we do and how do we go about creating this without creating an uncomfortable situation for folks," he said during an interview last week.

The student said he understands why the district would pause over the formation of a potentially controversial club.

"It was just met with hesitance and I can completely understand," he said, "because running a school, you have a million things to worry about."

Teacher offers

advice

Palmer High School business teacher Steven Cook is the staff advisor for the club. He offered advice to the student as he broadened his vision and went about setting up the diversity union rather than a GSA.

School district regulations and board policy don't allow school staff to promote or participate in non-school-sponsored clubs, but staff can be assigned to voluntarily observe clubs to maintain order and protect student safety.

Cook said the students have done all the work in terms of organizing, planning and running the club. While the student asked Cook to be the teacher advisor, Cook said his role has been mostly limited to answering logistical questions.

"I've been more of a person that he's come to for advice about setting up a constitution and hoops to jump through, what could be included, providing a meeting space, being a sounding board, a person to go to when questions have been arisen," Cook said.

Federal law protects student-led groups

Troxel said the diversity union falls under the category of non-school-sponsored club. According to federal law, such clubs cannot use school funds, public announcement systems or any other equipment beyond the incidental cost of providing the meeting space.

According to the federal Equal Access Act of 1984, secondary schools that receive federal funding while allowing non-curriculum-related student groups to meet at the school must also allow all other non-curriculum-related student groups to meet. That includes any group that might explore religious, political or philosophical issues, so long as they don't interfere with regular school activities or student safety.

If a school district wanted to ban one club, it would have to ban all clubs, including religious groups and charitable and recreational organizations - that's an option few districts ever choose.

"If we allow chess club, then we have to allow all clubs," Troxel said.

Group stirs controversy and enthusiasm

Recent Palmer High graduate Sandi Quier said she first heard about the diversity union this year, through word of mouth. While she thinks the club has a right to exist, Quier said she knows of other Palmer High students who oppose the group's formation.

"It's been a pretty negative response to it," she said. "Some don't think they should have started it. I think it's fine. He has every right to start a club if he wants. Personally, I don't agree, but it's his choice."

Sandi's mom, Tami Quier, wasn't aware of the group until last week, but said she wouldn't want her daughter participating in it.

Cook said he knows of about 10 other students who came down to the school's front office with negative comments about the diversity union, after an article about the group was published in the May 25 edition of the school newspaper. The student founder, however, said he has heard nothing but good things from students who want to participate.

"For now there doesn't seem to be any opposition," he said. "There seems to be all positive reactions from students themselves, but of course you have to wait and see; time will tell."

Entering new

territory

According to Cook, the main goals of the group are to get students talking about the issues at hand, while evaluating and supporting their opinions and reasons, whether they agree with each other or not.

"Maybe it's going to be controversial, maybe it's going to get people talking, but we got the kids discussing," he said. "We've got them thinking, we've got them analyzing, we've got them delving into issues."

Until now the diversity union has spent most of its time and energy just setting up the organizational scheme of the group, but Cook said student members are working to establish an agenda for the fall, when school starts, so they can begin discussing specific issues.

Possible ideas for future meetings include film and book discussions, guest speakers and round-table conversations.

Troxel said he's unaware of any other diversity club in the school district, to date.

"Students have had thoughts about having diversity clubs, but I think this is the first club to be formed," he said. "Diversity club is entering new territory."

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.