SOU One of Nation's Top LGBTQ-Friendly Campuses

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has been named one of the 25 most LGBTQ-friendly campuses in the nation according to Campus Pride, the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups.
Now in its seventh year, the Campus Pride Top 25 LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities list highlights the most LGBTQ-inclusive colleges and universities when it comes to policy, program, and practice in higher education.
“We are extremely pleased with our inclusion in Campus Pride’s list of top LGBTQ-friendly campuses,” said janelle wilson, SOU’s associate director of student life for social justice and service. “The administration, faculty, staff, and students at SOU have gone to great lengths to ensure that students of all orientations and identities have the opportunity to study at an inclusive, safe campus, and this recognition affirms those efforts.”
This marks the third year in a row that SOU has been included on Campus Pride’s list. SOU was also recently named the most LGBTQ-friendly school in Oregon by eCollegeFinder.org.
“According to a recent report from the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ youth are twice as likely as their peers to report being physically assaulted, and more than 40 percent report living in a community that is not acceptable of LGBTQ people,” wilson said. “It remains as important now as ever to provide a safe, welcoming environment to everyone who wants to pursue post-secondary education.”
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SOU earned a Campus Pride Index ranking of 4.5 out of 5 stars. In its SOU report card (available online at https://tinyurl.com/p9jv4j6), Campus Pride highlighted the University’s LGBTQ academic and student life opportunities as well as housing, campus safety, and recruitment and retention efforts for LGBTQ students.
More information on LGBTQ resources at SOU is available from the University’s Queer Resource Center online at sou.edu/qrc or by calling 541-552-8329.
SOU is sponsoring the Southern Oregon Pride Festival, which is taking place Oct. 10 in Ashland.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.
About Campus Pride
Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org.