Baylor University students can register for a class titled "Homosexuality as Gateway Drug" and learn what it can lead to. Inquisitive students will be able to explore "an area of sociology not covered by regular course offerings." Even though Baylor prides itself on "looking for ways to improve and enhance" the educational experience of its student body, the course description reads like cult propaganda.
Considering that Baylor is located in Waco, Texas, this class is probably going to lean heavily to the right. However, it is a sociology course, so it's sure to spark some interesting debates. What kind of books will be required for this class, and what will students be tested on? Better yet, will the professor even show up? It's listed as closed on Baylor's hilariously titled BearWeb, so a lot kids would be disappointed if they missed out on this.
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baylor November 11th, 2011 at 07:51 PM
The course was badly named, but it was not homophobic. The course was named by a student taking an independent study, who titled it ironically. The topic of the course was to investigate if increased acceptance of homosexuality was correlated with acceptance of other once-scorned behaviors like cohabitation, etc. The title was ironic, making an analogy between anti-gay rhetoric and fear of drugs like marijuana. The title is actually intended as a critique of the idea that accepting homosexuality is a "slippery slope" to accepting anything and everything. Please do not judge Baylor or the professor based on this title. This is a terrible, terrible misunderstanding. The title was ill-chosen--irony is risky. Please do not send the prof any hatemail--she's really nice and very open-minded.
Greg November 12th, 2011 at 12:32 AM
“No lie can live forever ” This course was an independent study course with a student that probably named the course (poorly)(max enroll 1) We live in a world of twitter journalists who want to put in only enough effort to support their agenda, not to get to the truth.
Baylor Grad November 17th, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Someone is really good at photoshop. The special topics course is one in Family Studies. See this website for the official course catalog: https://www1.baylor.edu/courselistings/Results.aspx?TermCC=20&Term=121&College=0&Prefix=SOC&StartCN=&EndCN=&Status=&Days=&Instructor=&IsMini=false. Even if those at Baylor don't agree with Homosexuality, they would not venture to name a course "Homosexuality as a gateway drug." This would be grossly inappropriate, insensitive, and disrespectful.