University of Idaho students can expect upcoming changes this year to programs such as Blackboard Learn and Vandal Web.
The changes include a more accessible, mobile-friendly site where students are able to self-identify their preferred names, said Lindsey Brown, registrar of the Office of the Registrar.
Athene Peterson, a second-year UI student who identifies as a woman using “she” and “her” pronouns who began transitioning early this year, said she recognizes the impact using one’s preferred name has for those in the transgender community.
Peterson is a member of the community, but she took her name-change process into her own hands by getting her name legally changed.
“The process to change your name in Idaho is an absolute pain,” Peterson said.
Peterson began the name change process late last year/early this year, but wasn’t able to have the court case until March. The process itself is extensive and requires significant time and financial commitments, she said.
“People say, ‘Oh, it was like $300, or whatever around that, you know’ — but it’s $300,” said Julia Keleher, director of the LGBTQA office. “And you have to know how to navigate a system, and sometimes people aren’t ready to change their name. And it’s not a requirement to do that.”
A name change can be dangerous as well, as students may end up outing themselves, Keleher said.
Interactions on programs like Bblearn can cause difficulties since students’ dead names — the name they used before transitioning — are still used. The students may not feel comfortable with those names and/or those names do not represent them anymore — especially if they already began their transition, she said.
While these changes can be good for anyone who has a preferred name, like “Elizabeth” wanting to go by “Liz,” Brown said she recognizes the impact this will have on students who are in the process of transitioning.
Since Brown joined UI’s staff, she has been in contact with Keleher, Dr. Kristin Haltinner, an associate professor of sociology, and Yolanda Bisbee, chief diversity officer and executive director of tribal relations.
They and others have been working on the program for quite some time and Brown said they want to make sure it is as inclusive as possible.
“If I was in a room of people, and everyone’s like, ‘Oh, what’s the point, this is unneeded. No one would use it.’ But people are supportive,” Keleher said. “It’s just a matter of things outside of my control that I can’t speed up. In a perfect world, I would have had this done years ago.”
A change like this takes so long because it is a big undertaking, Keleher said.
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From the Registrar to IT, many offices and groups need to be involved in this process.
This leaves the Registrar’s office to figure out how many offices use students’ names, in order to ensure no problems arise.
“There are some places where we are legally required to use a student’s legal name,” Brown said. “However, we’re investigating to find out what we can do to the students and where we are allowed to do a preferred name instead.”
Peterson recognizes the huge steps forward with Vandal cards. Within a close-knit group of transgender students Peterson has worked with, she said she was able to see the smiles on these students’ faces when they received new Vandal cards displaying their preferred names.
“It means so much to us to be validated,” Peterson said. “It’s just a great step forward, and hopefully with this we’re going to see more steps forward to be able to help us just be who we are.”
This story has been updated to reflect Lindsey Brown, registrar of the Office of the Registrar, correct name.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected]