Kansas Lawmakers' Inquiry Into Courses
    With Homosexual Content Causes Concern

    By JEFFREY SELINGO

    Kansas lawmakers have asked six state universities for a list of
    their courses that contain material related to homosexuality or
    bisexuality.

    The Kansas Board of Regents' office received the request last week
    from the Legislative Research Office, which studies questions
    asked by state legislators. Ben Barrett, director of the research
    office, refused to disclose who had made the request because all
    inquiries to the office are confidential.

    Officials at the regents' office said they had sent copies of a
    letter on February 19 to the University of Kansas and Emporia,
    Fort Hays, Kansas, Pittsburg, and Wichita State Universities. Each
    letter requests a list of courses offered "during this academic
    year which contain content directly related to the subject of
    homosexuality or bisexuality."

    The lists of courses are due at the regents' office by Friday.

    "We don't know who requested it or why," said Barbara
    Conant, a spokeswoman for the regents.

    James R. Hamilton, chairman of the philosophy department at
    Kansas State, said on Tuesday that university administrators
    should have rebuffed the request. Lawmakers should not use
    "legislative mechanisms" to obtain information that is freely
    available to the public, he added.

    "In a free and open university, there are topics that will be
    disturbing to some," Dr. Hamilton said. "Faculty view this as a
    thinly veiled attack on certain courses. I don't think an innocent
    motivation makes a difference."

    David Shulenburger, provost at the University of Kansas,
    called the request "unusual." But he said in an interview on
    Tuesday that he would not jump to conclusions about the
    request without knowing the motive of the lawmakers who are
    seeking the information.

    "We hope for a good motive," he said.

    Two courses at the University of Kansas -- one in journalism
    and the other in medicine -- cover topics that include
    homosexuality or bisexuality, Dr. Shulenburger said.