February 10, 2015 - 01:42
Earlier today Bryn Mawr students, faculty, and staff were the recipients of a few emails announcing a few exciting changes to the college's admission policies: transwomen, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-noncomforming individuals will also be eligable to admission to Bryn Mawr for the 2015/2016 school year. In the words of Arlene Gibson, the Chair of the BMC Board of Trustees, "in addition to those applicants who were assigned female at birth, the applicant pool will be inclusive of transwomen and of intersex individuals who live and identify as women at the time of application. Intersex individuals who do not identify as male are also eligible for admission." However, Arlene also mentions that "Those assigned female at birth who have taken medical or legal steps to identify as male are not eligible for admission" and "in cases where an applicant’s gender identity is not clearly reflected in their application materials, the College may request additional information, which could include verifiable legal or medical steps taken to affirm gender" though "In evaluating such additional information, the College fully intends to be as flexible and inclusive as possible."
Current students, alums, and other community members have been advocating for change for a number of years, though in the past few months or so, there has been a heavy emphasis on opening BMC admission to trans and nonbinary students. Facebook groups of students and alums organizing and spreading the word, petitions, organized phone calls to higher administration, online campaigns aimed at broader admission, and alums withholding donations to the college were among the ways in which those affiliated with the college spoke out against current policy and advocated for change. While these efforts may seem overwhelming, a relatively small number of people took action and many seemed surprised that the college and the individuals within the administration (including President Cassidy herself) were giving the issue serious thought. This reaction may be augmented by past administration members, presidents, admissions staff, and iterations of the Board of Trustees being resistant to the admittance of trans and NB students, but was nevertheless a pleasant, if somewhat unexpected, turn of events. Not only did the college seem to listen, but the actions that were taken appeared to give the matter serious thought (another pleasant surprise), and resulted in a change in positive change of policy. This said, the college is essentially asking applicants to "prove" they are trans or NB, which on one hand, is somewhat understandable as male-identifying individuals are not allowed admittance, but also leaves students who are unable or unwilling to transition physically or legally in a difficult position. No policy is perfect, and regardless this is a good starting point.
Personally I'm surprised that the college has taken this stance at this time, but happily so. I don't often see such large positive change that is actually helpful, especially in relation to diversity, so this is an exciting turn of events.
Links to the emails sent by Arlene Gibson, Kim Cassidy, and the article featured on the Bryn Mawr website:
http://news.brynmawr.edu/2015/02/09/a-letter-from-bryn-mawr-board-chair-arlene-gibson/
http://news.brynmawr.edu/2015/02/09/a-letter-from-president-kim-cassidy/
http://news.brynmawr.edu/2015/02/09/in-affirming-mission-bryn-mawr-board-sets-inclusive-guidelines-for-undergraduate-admission/