Progress on campus is important to the Baker University Gay-Straight Alliance, which is why the campus group is trying to make changes to the Baker University Student Handbook.

 The handbook states sodomy is considered sexual misconduct on Baker’s campus.

“We want to make sure that, as a group, our ultimate goal is to see this clause amended in some way, whether it is including more specific terminology or removed completely,” GSA Secretary Olivia Hernandez said.

The issue was brought to the attention of GSA during a recent meeting.

Some members perceived the wording in the handbook to specifically call out homosexual males partaking in consensual sodomy. The policy is derived from a state law making sodomy illegal in Kansas.

“It’s an unenforceable, outdated law, whose only point is just to make homosexuals in this state feel criminalized and isolated,” Hernandez said.

Dean of Students Cassy Bailey was unaware of the term being in the handbook.

She also noted a change should be made as soon as it was brought to her attention.

“It was never in any way meant to be anything but supportive of sexual misconduct victims,” Bailey said. “In all cases, the sexual misconduct policy speaks to acts that are nonconsensual, cohered or forced.”

The group had not yet addressed Bailey or any other faculty or staff because it wanted to first research and prepare itself for the discussion.

“Because it is such a sensitive subject matter, we want to proceed very slowly and make sure we are talking to the correct people,” Hernandez said.

GSA President Joylin Hall was pleased with the fact it was quickly noted as soon as it was mentioned.

The group as a whole was mainly concerned with the handbook meaning it as consensual.

“If they just make that distinction, then suddenly that takes the whole idea of discriminating against gay people totally out of the question,” Hall said. “I would be thrilled with that.”

Although a change or clause to the handbook must be voted on and passed, Bailey doesn’t think there will be an issue with getting it done, due to the lack of specificationsin the handbook.

“What was written and what was perceived was different, so there will be a clarification clause,” Bailey said.