Abilene Christian University survey suggests LGBTQ+ students are more likely to struggle with mental health

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Abilene Christian University (ACU) began conducting surveys of students’ campus experiences in 2021 with questions ranging from overall satisfaction and availability of certain resources, to mental health concerns. ACU Alumni led LGBTQ+ advocacy group Wildcats for Inclusion (WFI) found in that data that queer-identifying students at that time were three times more likely to struggle with depression, 1.5 times more likely to struggle with anxiety, and six times more likely to have had suicidal thoughts or ideation.

“Even if they only represent a small percentage of the student body, one student experiencing that is too many,” WFI member Sarah Carlson advocated.

Also an ACU Alumnus and former University employee, Carlson told KTAB/KRBC WFI’s conversations with current and former students shows the environment cultivated on campus is a major contributing factor to the declining mental state of queer-identifying students.

ACU president promises ‘safe environment’ following reports of ‘anti-gay’ rhetoric, bullying after Holy Sexuality Week

“The ACU community, when you’re a part of it, can be really amazing. But when you feel like you’re on the outside of it, it can be heartbreaking,” revealed Carlson.

Events like a recent Holy Sexuality Week, and the university’s Sexual Stewardship Policy were cited as two factors that work against a positive mental state for LGBTQ+ students. Some speakers during the Holy Sexuality week purportedly decried LGBTQ identities, which students have stated to WFI directly impacted their feelings of inclusion on campus. This Sexual Stewardship Policy, Carlson said, creates a kind of “Second class citizen” designation in which queer-identifying students are excluded from some facets of university life based on their sexual or gender identity.

WFI raised these concerns to campus administration, speaking with ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert in hopes of finding ways to improve the campus experience for all students.

“We’re coming at this from a place of concern and wanting the best for students… I take the administration at their word that that’s their number one goal, too,” Carlson said.

However, 2022 sexual and gender identity options were omitted from the 2022 student survey, making it difficult to diagnose any issues that may be present. Carlson said this was done, due in part, to growing concerns of student safety.

“Students were starting to report that they didn’t feel safe on campus for multiple reasons. One of which being… There’s a very outspoken group of alumni on social media who have a group where they have openly harassed and doxed queer students and affirming faculty and staff,” shared Carlson.

This online group, which began as an open forum for all ACU alumni to voice opinions, has been extremely active with many members posting their displeasure with the university’s seeming acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities. The “doxing” Carlson referred to showed up in a number of posts that display photos and, at times, names of queer-identifying students or LGBTQ+ affirming faculty. Group members often call for the firing of staff based on their beliefs or removal of such students.

In reference to students’ on-campus experience in the face of bullying, the ACU administration released the following statement:

Still, outside factors like this social media group of Alumni continue to influence students’ experience on campus. campus.

“It’s a lot of pressure for an undergraduate student… And on top of that, they’re perceived as a political statement,” WFI member Amelia Little explained.

Also a recent graduate of ACU as well as a current employee and identifying Christian, Little told KTAB/KRBC the rhetoric supported in groups like that one have a direct effect on queer-identifying students.

“It is incredibly discouraging to me when I hear, ‘if you don’t like it you can just leave,'” said Little.

While LGBTQ+ issues have been the center of much discussion lately, Little likened the discourse to a difference in doctrine and personal belief rather than an absolute as many proponents assert. During the Vietnam War there were many staff that are still currently employed who were pacifists opposed to the fighting, Little said. While other faculty actively took part in the conflict, a diametrically opposed moral belief based in faith, which she sees as similar though not receiving the same attention.

“We’re not focusing on those differences,” Little began. “We are focusing on the private lives of a marginalized community.”

Carlson also spoke on the nature of differences in belief. She related how many churches, even in the Church of Christ tradition, in which ACU was founded, hold affirming viewpoints to LGBTQ+ identities. She insisted the university should be a place for discussion rather than exclusion, especially when that exclusion hinders the existence of a group of willing students.

“‘Christians can talk about everything’ is what many of the previous presidents have said, and I don’t think we should change that precedent just based on certain things that some people who want to fight in the culture wars are saying we should,” added Carlson.

When compared to national data collected by The Trevor Project in a survey of LGBTQ+ student experience on all kinds of College Campuses, the ACU survey comes out slightly better. Even so, the WFI said it will continue to work for the betterment of students and their safety.

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