For many years now, college enrollment applications have asked students for the same traditional information: grades, extracurricular activities and financial aid information, to name a few. However, these applications may soon begin to pose questions about applicants’ sexual preferences.

Elmhurst College, an Illinois liberal arts school, recently added a sexual orientation question to its 2012-2013 enrollment form. The question asks applicants, “Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community?” in an optional questions section of the form.

Representatives from the school claim the question is meant to determine eligibility for certain scholarships, not to determine eligibility for the college.

At first glance, it’s easy to see the reasoning behind this addition to enrollment forms and see little, if any, harm to it. However, an argument can be made that the question is vaguely worded. After all, someone could be identified as gay, bisexual or transgendered but not consider themselves a part of the LGBT community.

On the other hand, a straight individual could be heavily involved in the LGBT community. Is the question truly meant to survey for sexual preference, or is it meant solely to determine support for the gay rights movement? How are these scholarships awarded?

Well-meaning diversity efforts in university enrollment are to be commended, but the intentions behind such efforts and the intentions behind this new enrollment inquiry could use some clarification.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the editorial staff listed above.