Tuesday, March 17, 2015 02:21 PM |
Wellesley is the second of the Seven Sisters (Smith College, Bryn Mawr College, Wellesley College, Barnard College, Radcliffe College, and Vassar College) to change its admissions policies inside of a year. Will the other five respond in kind? Smith, in particular, has been under public scrutiny and student protest since 2013 when they rejected the application of Calliope Wong. Smith’s Dean of Admissions, Debra Shaver, has since indicated that the policy is under review, and Smith has temporarily ceased rejecting the applications of trans women. According to Dr. Genny Beemyn, renowned researcher, and Director of University of Massachusetts Stonewall Center, nationwide 40 other single-sex colleges are being pushed to change their admissions policies as well. Colleges looking to improve their support for transgender students are encouraged to consult the Consortium’s Suggested Best Practices for Supporting Trans Students. Please join the Consortium in congratulating Simmons College and Wellesley College for their leadership in operationalizing the reality that “gender identity is not reducible to the body” (Kellaway, 2014).
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