This is the first in a series looking at how Alaska’s more prominent university campuses deal with controversial social issues on campus. The University of Alaska, Southeast (UAS) in Juneau is part of the University of Alaska system which includes campuses across the state.

ABORTION & SEX ADVICE

The Juneau campus strongly supports abortion services for all students. The school clinic provides students with access to contraceptives, including abortifacients which end the life of an embryonic baby. The clinic also refers students to Planned Parenthood – the largest provider of abortions in Alaska.

Planned Parenthood is officially supported by campus leadership, including Chancellor Richard Caulfield who relayed this in an Oct. 14 message to the university. He noted that the school is committed to inviting Planned Parenthood to speak with students about the services it offers. Planned Parenthood is also prominently featured in the university’s annual Power & Privilege Symposium, a one-day conference advocating for many left-leaning social issues.

In addition to promoting abortion the student health clinic website directs students to read an advice column, “Ask Alice,” which gives, among other things, instruction on how to “safely” engage in various forms of oral and anal sex. The column plainly states, “it’s wise to play it safe when it comes to protection and enjoy the cheeky new addition to your sexual repertoire.”

LGBTQ ACTIVISM

As an institution UAS enthusiastically promotes the LGBTQ political and social agenda by encouraging students and staff to establish “Safe Zones” around campus.

The Safe Zone program trains staff and faculty to actively support all forms of sexual orientation and gender identity, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning. These Safe Zone activists also challenge students who may disagree with the LGBTQ movement on campus. A total of 49 faculty and staff are listed as Safe Zone “advocates.” This includes Chancellor Caulfield, a vice chancellor and three university deans.

In October the campus celebrated National Coming Out Day with a drag show in the student recreation center

Safe Zone participants are urged to “give open support for LGBTIQ issues” and to recruit others to the cause. Advocates attend training workshops which are held each semester. Additionally, participants are asked to attend and support LGBTQ celebrations.

According to the website, Safe Zones are places on campus where LGBTQ issues are discussed “in a non-judgmental way,” and with the use of “inclusive language” that avoids stereotyping and assuming that “everyone is heterosexual.” Faculty and staff are asked to post Safe Zone stickers in their workspaces.

“Displaying the sticker indicates that within your office or room, homophobic and heterosexist comments and actions will not be tolerated silently,” the website states.

In October the campus celebrated National Coming Out Day with a drag show in the student recreation center. A poster for the event featured eight performers, headlined by “Spikey Van Dkyey.” UAS partners with Alaska Airlines to underwrite the annual performance.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Students at UAS are permitted to form official clubs which must adhere to certain guidelines. There are 16 student clubs listed on the UAS website. These include a group that promotes the LGBTQ movement, a Planned Parenthood backed campus outreach, a club that focuses on native tribes and related cultural and social issues, a Christian club and a group for campus conservatives. Other clubs focus mainly on the arts, entertainment, outdoor adventures and career preparation.

While anyone is invited to start a club, they must follow the university’s guidelines for membership. Any limitation on membership is discouraged by UAS and must be related to the club’s core goals and first approved by the university. A student cannot be barred from club membership for, among other things, his or her creed, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or lifestyle. Additionally, club leaders must foster “inclusive” environments.

Students can also make their voices heard through the campus newspaper, Whalesong. The small monthly publication accepts letters to the editor and opinion pieces from students.

EXPRESSION OF IDEAS

In addition to student clubs and the newspaper, the university hosts its annual “Power & Privilege Symposium” each fall. According to the UAS website, the one-day event is designed to give faculty, students and community members an opportunity to explore “dynamic and pressing societal changes through difficult, thoughtful, and honest conversations.” The symposium is held on a non-teaching day to encourage maximum student participation.

Like past years, not a single presentation was given from a culturally conservative or religious perspective.

While the website claims the symposium exists to pursue truth “in a setting supportive of free inquiry and discussion,” topics and speakers are overwhelmingly left leaning when it comes to hot button social issues.

This year’s Nov. 12 symposium included presentations on environmental issues, political protests, colonization and ways to celebrate “the LGBTQ2+ people in your life.” One presentation dealt with “unhealthy and limiting ideas on masculinity and maleness.”

One talk explored threats to reproductive health care access in Alaska, while another critiqued the “global war on terror,” including a call to bring war crimes charges against the “architects of the U.S. torture program.”

Like past years, not a single presentation was given from a culturally conservative or religious perspective.

“I can’t think of one that would be religious in the last two years,” said Student Activities Coordinator Juliette Alldredge, before adding that the symposium committee did turn down one politically conservative applicant this year because the description of his talk was not extensive enough.

Alldredge did claim, however, that those who wish to present a talk from a conservative or religious viewpoint are “absolutely welcome” to submit an application.

CONTACTS

• Click here to contact UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield
• Click here to contact the UAS Student Activities Board
• Juliette Lowery, UAS Student Activities Coordinator: (907) 796-6325 or ajlowery@alaska.edu
• Click here to contact the University of Alaska Board of Regents