Article - "Does the Corps of Cadets have a Gay Policy?"

NGCSU has lots of organizations, such as GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), to promote diversity on campus. With that in mind, this reporter wondered how it would be taken if a cadet were to openly profess homosexuality in this militaristic atmosphere. Would there be punishment equivalent to that of a homosexual in the actual army? Would anyone notice at all?

Col. (ret.) Tom Palmer, Commandant of Cadets, states the later is true for the NGCSU cadet. He states that, "There are no policies in the University system of Georgia that I know of that allow people to be discriminated against because of sexual orientation."

However, he also does not recall any instance on campus where a cadet has "come out." He also explains that he never knew former cadet Jeff Cleghorn, an alumnus and a guest speaker during diversity week. For those that do not know of him, Cleghorn was serving the military by working in the pentagon but openly proclaimed his homosexuality to his co-workers and superiors.

It should be noted that when Cleghorn did "come out" he was not an enrolled student. Therefore, Palmer explains that he has no predictions as to how this instance would have been handled if he (Cleghorn) had "come out" as a student.

Palmer does explain that he is a state employee, not a federal one, and his job is to represent the cadet populous as what they are: "They're college students, not army personnel." He also explains that while there is not a policy he's aware of on campus dealing with homosexuality, there is a federal one for those enlisted.

He goes on further to state that a student doesn't have to follow any of those federal policies until he or she is actually employed on active duty. Palmer also explains that, as he does represent a type of student, the cadet, homosexuality would be as trivial as it would be for a commuter or female civilian, because they're all just students.

According to him, "There is no criterion of sexual orientation for being a student or cadet whatsoever."

However, it should be noted that in the student handbook, just behind the front cover where it is stated that the campus is "equal opportunity," there is no mention of the protection of homosexuals against discrimination.

It reads as follows, "No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, creed, national origin, age or disability, be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination."

Also, as far as Palmer is aware, there is no mention of cadet homosexuality in the Blue Book or any constitution on campus. So while there is no policy discriminating against homosexuality, there is also no policy, that he's aware of, that protects homosexuals against discrimination.

However, he states that as far as a state employee is concerned, "No university employee should discriminate against you. All students have the chance to excel in academics and get a degree."

Palmer also found that, while there is no written policy concerning homosexuality, under the student code of conduct, article five of section six states that "Conduct and/or expressions that harass, demean or degrade any group or individual are prohibited." - Lara Moore, The North Georgia College and State University Voice, Nov 13 2003