At DePaul, queer studies finds a niche

Chicago Tribune ^ | February 20, 2006 | Jodi S. Cohen

[ConservativeStatement]

College student Eric Oliver sits in the classroom's front row, ready to learn about Italian poet Dante and Catholic theologian St. Thomas Aquinas and their views on morality and sin.

But this isn't a religion, philosophy or literature class. It's an introductory course in queer studies, and for the next 90 minutes, Oliver and his classmates study the history of same-sex desire, the biology of gender identity and government reactions to homosexual behavior. It is no longer remarkable that the subjects are taught, but on this day, it is notable where the discussion is taking place.

The classroom is on the campus of DePaul University, the country's largest Catholic university and, it is believed, the first Catholic school to offer an undergraduate minor in queer studies. The minor became available in January.

[the lone wolf]

Would that be a niche or a...um, crack?

[steelcurtain]

One wonders for what sort of employment a major in Gay Studies is suited

None. I imagine we'll be seeing these "scholars" working at Starbucks or trying to become make-up artists.

[Designer]

"If my kid told me that"

I suspect your kid would not take such a class. Mine wouln't either.

[ConservativeStatement]

Ironically, I heard that TV Land, in their reruns of "Match Game," has blocked out a word that is now deemed derogatory that was acceptable back then.

[concernedAmerican1]

This link may interest you.

http://www.tfp.org/student_action/activities/protests/depaul_queerstudies.htm