Congressman Jeff Landry Asks UL To Drop LGBT Minor

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- Representative Jeff Landry has asked University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie to drop the school's planned academic minor in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies.

Landry sent a personal letter Wednesday to Savoie. In it, he says he's concerned the university is losing its focus.

"As our nation continues to struggle with high unemployment," Landry says, "higher education's primary mission should be ensuring current and future students have the tools necessary to compete in the 21st century economy."

Landry also questions the "fiscal wisdom" of the courses considering the budget cuts made to the state's public universities.

"We must effectively allocate these scarce resources and give priority to those courses and minors that provide demonstrable employment benefits," Landry says.

In a letter posted to the university's website, Savoie argues the new minor does not require new "budgetary allocations."

"It allows students to choose from a list of nearly 100 existing courses across several disciplines," Savoie says.

"Our desired posture is to be neither advocate nor adversary on controversial social issues of the day," Savoie says. "Rather, our responsibility is to provide in an impartial manner an opportunity for investigation, analysis and understanding."