by Katy Marquardt
of the Daily Texan

(U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas - Tempers are still flaring for many Texas A&M students, faculty and staff left frustrated by the administration's recent refusal to include sexual orientation in the school's anti-discrimination policy.

President Ray Bowen vetoed a proposal Monday to add "sexual orientation" to a list of characteristics such as race, sex and religion already protected in the student handbook.

A&M's Student Senate, Graduate Student Council and Faculty Senate approved the changes, making the veto even more disappointing, according to Kim Novak, adviser for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies, the organization that authored the proposal.

"To have the students, the faculty and staff behind them has been an uplifting experience, but then to have the president reject it Ñ their initial reaction is to feel rejected," she said.

Bowen cited legal reasons for vetoing the proposal, stating that federal law does not extend anti-discrimination protection to gays and lesbians, therefore adopting such a policy could create legal problems for A&M.

Thomas Wehrly, Speaker of the A&M Faculty Senate, said extending A&M's anti-discrimination policy to include gays and lesbians is essential to the school's evolution.

"This proposed rule change would make A&M policy consistent with such universities as yours," said Wehrly, an A&M statistics professor. "Essentially it would make A&M's campus friendly to all people Ñ it should be a welcome and diverse campus."

But Novak said Bowen's decision proves otherwise.

"Personally and emotionally these students feel unwelcomed and slighted," she said.

Jordan Davis, secretary for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies, said the veto runs deeper, symbolizing the school's refusal to accept gays and lesbians.

"We want this statement from the administration saying we are wanted here, even though we may not feel it," Davis said. "We want them to acknowledge that gays and lesbians are vital members of the community Ñ and Bowen's actions are not saying that."

Bowen did not return phone calls Wednesday.

More than 400 universities nationwide have made efforts to include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination laws, most recently Southern Methodist University, which added the category in May.

UT-Austin included gays in its anti-discrimination policy in 1990, and has not yet encountered any legal problems, said James Vick, vice president of student affairs.

"In nine years we've never run into any legal problems," Vick said. "The policy has been a sound policy."

But Baylor University has not adopted such a policy, and the school's student handbook warns that "Misuse of God's gift will be understood to include, but not be limited to, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault, incest, adultery, fornication and homosexuality."

The handbook also lays out school policy on such "misuse."

"Baylor will strive to deal in a constructive and redemptive manner with all who fail to live up to this high standard," states the Student Handbook Policy on Sexual Misconduct.

Davis said the collegiate gay community is well aware of Baylor's policy towards homosexuals.

"It's known that you get kicked out of Baylor if they find out you're gay," Davis said. "Students at Baylor just don't come out."

He added his organization will continue to lobby for changes in A&M's policy, distribute petitions and meet with Bowen.

Davis said that the A&M Faculty Senate will take up the issue at its next executive meeting on August 25 to decide a course of action.