All-Women Liberal Arts College Votes On Non-Binding Referendum To Allow Trans, Non-Binary Individuals To Apply
On Tuesday, students at a Massachusetts women-only private liberal arts college supported a non-binding vote that would allow females to identify as men. “non-binary” Individuals may apply for the institution.
Wellesley College’s student body, which includes Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton, voted unanimously last week to move the Gender Inclusivity Ballot forward. This would allow students. “express their views” the 150-year old institution’s admissions policies and make its language more inclusive of such students. Officials at the school said that student votes would have no impact on the school’s policies and practices.
The college already accepts transgender-identifying students who were born male, but the controversial referendum expands the application process for women who identify as men.
“We’re just asking the administration to put on paper what’s already true of the student body,” Alexandra Brooks, president of the student body, said The New York Times. “Trans men go to Wellesley, nonbinary people go to Wellesley, and they kind of always have.”
Elizabeth Um, a senior at Wellesley For Life and the president of the campus’ prolife group, said to the Times that she chose the liberal arts college because it was close to her home and its status as a women’s college.
“If you don’t think you can fit in here, then you have your pick of thousands of other coed colleges in the country or the world,” Um. “We’re a women’s college. That’s the core identity of the school, and we can’t start watering that down.”
Um did not tell the outlet whether Um opposed the referendum. She noted that it would pass, and she would speak out against the ballot on campus. “social suicide.”
Wellesley has admitted to it. “cis, trans, and nonbinary students—all who consistently identify as women,” Paula Johnson was the college’s president. Letter Last week on the college’s website.
Johnson opposed the referendum, and warned students that it would not affect its admissions policy.
“We are not a ‘historically women’s college,’ a term that only applies to women’s colleges that have made the decision to enroll men,” Johnson wrote. “We have chosen a different path, one that aligns with peer institutions, including Barnard, Smith, and Bryn Mawr colleges.”
“In accordance with our admission policy, Wellesley admits applicants who identify and live consistently as women, regardless of the gender they were assigned at birth,” She continued.
Wellesley college is home to approximately 2,500 students. It is located in the suburbs Boston. It is unknown how many students claim to be opposite sex. “non-binary.”
“It’s important that all members of this community feel seen. Some transgender male and nonbinary students whose identities have evolved during their time here say they feel excluded by the College’s use of the words ‘women’ and ‘alumnae’ — and feel that their individual identities are not embraced,” Johnson wrote. “At the same time, many students who are committed to Wellesley’s mission as a women’s college and who identify as women have been publicly criticized for their view and have felt pressured to describe Wellesley as a historically women’s college.”
Johnson’s letter was rebuffed by the Wellesley News editorial Board, calling it unprofessional. “the College’s transphobic rhetoric.”
“Transgender and nonbinary students have always belonged and will continue to belong at Wellesley, a historically women’s college,” They wrote in editorial.
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