If the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance and the University work together, tolerance may in fact be a reality at Penn State.

By demanding more from the University and being willing to work with it, LGBSA may accomplish its goals.

Project TEACH!, LGBSA's latest approach to educate students, is an attempt to further educate the University community about gay issues. It is commendable that group members are standing up for what they believe and are offering constructive ideas to make change.

Project TEACH!, which stands for Try Education to Abolish Campus Homophobia, has three major goals:

-- To press the University to "TEACH!."

-- To shift the burden of education out of the hands of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance and into the hands of the University administration.

-- To provide for the educational needs and demands of University students, faculty and staff.

As part of the first phase of TEACH!, LGBSA would no longer conduct Straight Talks, an educational program LGBSA has offered to University classes and groups since 1984. A straight talk is a discussion about gay issues such as homophobia and heterosexism. The group would only do so if the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity coordinates and facilitates the talks.

That is a valid request because the University could bring Straight Talks to a wider variety and a larger number of classes while the members of LGBSA -- who know best about the issues -- would provide the education.

In Fall Semester 1993, the total attendance for Straight Talks was 1,636. And they targeted academic departments such as psychology, women's studies and sociology. By working together to present Straight Talks, other departments, such as math and engineering could also be reached. It is important to raise tolerance University-wide -- something that can be achieved through cooperation.

LGBSA is attempting to be productive instead of just adversarial. The effort to educate students will only work if LGBSA and the University listen to each other and truly work together.