After controversy, Salina will fund transgender speaker

Last Update: 10/28 6:20 pm

Print Story |

WICHITA, Kansas – An invited visitor to Kansas State University’s Salina campus has stirred up some controversy. The transgender speaker isn’t welcome by all students and there’s been a disagreement over how to pay for the presentation.

Thirty-year-old Ryan Sallans used surgery and hormone therapy to change from being a woman to a man. And when he was invited to bring his story to K-State Salina, the visit became the source of controversy.

"Several students are opposed to spending student money on bringing a speaker of this sort to campus,” said Brian Koester, student body president for K-State Salina. “It is controversial and some people aren't comfortable with it, they don't like it."

The reason for Sallans’ visit is that students like Shae Blackwell believe K-State Salina lacks diversity.

"It's primarily pilots, engineers and predominantly male,” said Blackwell. “I think that any kind of diversity, whether it's gender diversity, sexual diversity.”

Some would like to start a campus organization supporting gay and transgender individuals. It’s all in coordination with the family studies and human services major. But finding the funds to bring the transgender speaker to Salina hasn’t been easy.

"It's been kind of a rough process,” said Leslie Hannah, assistant dean of academics.

The first time around, the student senate rejected a request for $1,500 to pay for Sallans’ visit. The Student Governing Association also received harsh commentary from other students in its comment box. But after the request was lowered to just $600, thanks to private donations from students and faculty, the student senate decided to help.

"We saw our students emerge as leaders, dealing with real world issues, not just something that's exclusive to K-State at Salina, but issues that are beyond these walls,” Hannah said.

Ryan Sallans will lead a two-hour discussion at K-State Salina on November 23^rd, which is free and open to the public. The next day, he'll speak with three family studies and human services classes on campus.

Add a Comment

Add Video Comment

(2) Comments

To Email:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Message:
	Send a copy to my email