By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO, Calif. —  If there was one thing that was emphasized by speakers at the Graduate Student Orientation earlier this week it was "Read the Graduate Bulletin."  I did, and learned a lesson that I'm sure will serve me well during my entire graduate career:  "You must read the small print!"

The Graduate Bulletin is on line so I merrily skipped from one section to the other, using the links there provided (as of August 25, 2006). When I got to the section called "Regulations of the Division of Graduate Affairs," I was puzzled to find that "Religion" was not mentioned  under the "Non - Discrimination Policy" heading.

There were subheadings for "Race, Color and National Origin," "Disability," "Sex/Gender," and "Sexual Orientation."  Whatever happened to "Religion?  I wondered. Is this no longer a protected classification? Have things changed that much in the 40 years since I was in school?"

I also wondered what the important difference was between "race" and "color" that the two categories merited separate mention in the Graduate Bulletin. 

So I figured I'd follow the suggestion on Page 30 of the Graduate Bulletin and telephone SDSU's Office of Diversity and Equity at (619) 594-6464 to satisfy my curiosity.

I was connected with Jessica Cook, a very nice attorney who is the assistant director for compliance in that office.  When I explained my puzzlement, she responded that she too was puzzled. Perhaps, we theorized, it was a misprint.  Maybe, the people who wrote the Graduate Bulletin had intended that first subheading to read "Race, Religion, and National Origin." 

If that were the case, it is too bad that those who composed the Graduate Bulletin possibly didn't have the opportunity to work at the Daily Aztec.  In the campus newspaper's recent "student orientation" issue, copy chief Jennifer Halpert wrote beautifully that she and other copy editors "lay concrete over the pitfalls so that reporters don't fall into them.  We are the detectives of writing who search with careful eyes to make sure that stories are accurate, concise and grammatically flawless." I imagine omitting "religion" was a concrete example of such a pitfall.

At any rate, Assistant Director Cook said that if I were to check the policies of the San Diego State University Senate, the campus body which makes the rules, I'd find that "religion" is still indeed a classification enjoying the full protection of the non-discrimination clause.

Sure enough, on Page 42 of those polices, I found that under "Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity." the policy (as amended by the San Diego State University Senate on August 11) is: "San Diego State University shall maintain and promote a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy, medical condition and covered veteran status." 

Although on Aug. 11 some changes were made in that policy, those changes did not affect "religion" which had been there, is still in there, and most likely will remain there, according to Assistant Director Cook.

I figured that I might not be the only person to notice the omission.  Assistant Director Cook said it would be okay if I mentioned our conversation to the folks at the Division of Graduate Affairs.  So I telephoned over to that office and had the pleasure of talking with Candice Gupton, who is an Administrative Assistant-2.  She expressed surprise that  "religion" wasn't mentioned, and said she'd ask some questions out and get back to me when she had an answer.

She was good to her word, calling me back several hours later with the welcome news that "religion" really is in the Graduate Bulletin, after all, although not in the main text.  If I'd follow links to the Table of Contents on Page 2, there I'd find the policy in bold type: "San Diego State University maintains and promotes a policy of nondiscrimination and nonharassment on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, disability or veteran status, including veterans of the Vietnam War era."

Now this made me wonder, what about veterans of the Iraq War?  Surely it can't be okay for people to discriminate against them!

* * *

I proudly showed by new SDSUcard to my wife, Nancy.  "Ha! Ha!" she laughed. "They think you're 40!"  I could understand her amusement, given that we already have been married 38 years.  "I'm not sure what that number means," I responded.  "But I'll find out."

So I telephoned to the SDSUcard office and got a lady on the phone who did not tell her name. Personally, I've always believed people in offices should identify themselves, so that if ever you have to call back for further clarification, you'll know who to ask for.  Out of long habit, I give my name, even when I answer the telephone at home.  "Don Harrison," I announced into the telephone just the other day.  There was a pause. "Is that you, grandpa?" inquired my 5-year-old pride and joy.  But, still, he knows whom to call back if there are any questions.

Anyway, I asked Ms. No Name about the mysterious number 40, near the middle of the bottom line of the SDSUcard.  "It's code," she responded.  "It means this is your first SDSUcard.  If we have to replace it, it will say '41.'"   So, I learned that a student card—like life—begins at 40.

But why 40? I asked.  Why not some other number like, say,  "1;" wouldn't that suffice? Ms. No Name admitted that she didn't know.

Well, asked I, pressing my luck, what about that mysterious, 16-digit number in black on the bottom line of the card, just below my Red ID number? What's that all about?  She responded that as of now that serial number means nothing, but it's possible in the future such numbers could be needed, so it is there just in case?

Hmmm, I wondered, needed for what? 

I also wondered why at the Graduate Orientation they suggested that we memorize our Red ID number, if it's printed right there on the student card.

Then I realized how very much I am going to enjoy being a graduate student.  There will be so many opportunities to question and to learn.

Especially, now, that "religion" isn't permissible grounds for discrimination.