Friday November 2, 2001

The Boy Scouts of America's controversial position on homosexuality is nipping them in the bud, again.

After the United Way discontinued its association with the group because of its discriminatory hiring practices, the UA followed suit this year, banning employees from making charitable donations to the BSA through the university.

Every year, the UA holds a charity drive where it compels university employees to donate part of their salaries to various organizations in the city. In the past, the United Way would list member organizations on the form employees fill out, and would also leave a blank if someone wanted to donate to a non-participating charity.

Often, when employees wished to support groups that weren't members of the United Way - like Planned Parenthood - they could simply write in the name of the group and the university would give the money directly to the organization.

This year, UA President Peter Likins discontinued that option, meaning that organizations that did not adhere to the United Way's policies could not receive money in the drive.

Likins said any organization unwilling to adhere to the United Way's "anti-discrimination pledge" shouldn't receive the support of a public institution, especially one where discrimination in its hiring practices is outlawed.

"There were those of us who felt it was somehow wrong for us to effectively solicit funds for an organization that was not sharing anti-discrimination practices that were central to our university," Likins said.

Because of the change, the Boy Scouts can no longer receive money during the UA's annual drive. This could mean a loss of $9,061 - the amount of money university employees pledged to the local Catalina Council of the group last year - or more.

Needless to say, the Scouts aren't thrilled with the policy change.

"I think the UA is infringing on the rights of their employees," said Lou Salute, executive director of the Catalina Council. "They've set themselves up as some kind of censor."

Likins clearly doesn't think so, nor should he.

The university is not obligated to include any group in its drive. Furthermore, it is obligated to ensure that they're not endorsing organizations whose values don't agree with those of the UA.

BSA decided it was unwilling to change its hiring policies, which it is entitled to do.

But the Boy Scouts should also realize that many people didn't agree with their position, and, as a result, things would change for them.

It's also important to realize that the BSA isn't the only group affected by this change. Planned Parenthood will lose out on the $6,157 it received last year, and scores of other non-United Way charities will suffer a similar fate.

This was less of an attack by the university, and more of a statement that an institution that abides by strict policies expects affiliated groups to do the same.

This doesn't mean university employees can no longer give to the Boy Scouts. It just means that the school will no longer allow its name to be attached to the donations. If anyone has a problem with the exclusion, they can simply decline the opportunity to donate to the charities endorsed by UA, and give privately to the organization of their choice.

Also, there's always the option that the Boy Scouts could simply reverse their policy. Since they're unlikely to do so, it's time they realize that there's a price paid for principle. Or, in this case, there's money lost.