Despite their best efforts, state Democratic legislators in South Carolina failed to persuade their Republican counterparts to restore funds to two colleges that have included two gay-themed books as part of a required reading curriculum at public colleges. Multiple votes on the issue proved devastating to those who supported the text.
College of Charleston students read Fun Home, a book by Alison Bechdel, that describes her childhood with a closeted gay father and her own coming out as a lesbian. USC (University of South Carolina) Upstate assigned Out Loud: The Best of Rainbow Radio, referring to South Carolina’s first gay and lesbian radio show, for a freshmen course that included lectures and other out-of-classroom activities meant to spark discussions about the book.
Rep. Garry Smith agreed to restore the cuts so long as they were part of elective classes only; his way of saying that he wanted to give students the option of reading something else. “Freedom comes with responsibility. These universities did not act responsibly,” said the Republican who represents Simpsonville.
The budget cuts are substantial. $52,000 will be cut from the College of Charleston while $17,142 has been shaved from USC Upstate. But critics – largely educators, administrators and Democrats – are crying foul. “When it comes to public colleges, legislators should be debating funding and building construction, not pushing our own moral agenda on these institutions of higher learning,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg. “Are we saying we don’t trust the college students enough to expose them to something they may not have seen before? We can’t let you read anything other than what we believe?” she asked. “What about the notion of freedom to have different views? Isn’t this what we go all over the globe fighting for?”
