In the book's production, The Advocate surveyed current LGBT students from college campuses which the magazine considers the most LGBT-friendly. Different student populations were then asked to submit online nominations of colleges they believed to be LGBT friendly. Five student interviews and one faculty or staff interview were held for every nominated college.
Each institution was given a "gay point average," rated out of 20 possible points. This "GPA" was calculated by assigning point values to each one of 20 different characteristics of the college. Some of the aspects assessed included whether or not the institution has a LGBT and Ally Student Organization and Resource Center, the number of on-campus LGBT social activities and educational events held each year, the variety of LGBT course listings and noted LGBT discrimination on campus.
Other factors considered were whether or not the college actively recruits LGBT students, the training of Campus Police on LGBT sensitivity and the offering of LGBT counseling, housing, support and student scholarships.
Williams, Colby and Middlebury Colleges appeared on the list while UMass was named as one of the top 20. A gay male at UMass described the social scene for LGBT students. "Vibrant and friendly are the words that come to mind," he told The Advocate. "The '2 in 20' floor for LGBT students and allies [at UMass] is a learning community where many LGBT students find it easy to be social and get involved."
The "2 in 20" program is one of the first living communities specifically designed to house LGBT students in the nation. The Stonewall Center, the LGBT activities center on the UMass campus, is another big draw for LGBT students.
For the most part, the schools who made the cut were public colleges and universities. Members of the Pride Alliance suggested that larger schools have access to more resources in order to provide a LGBT-friendly campus. "We're a small campus," said Jean-Robert Andre '07.
Some of the criteria used to judge schools, however, was rather arbitrary, according to students. For example, the extent of the LGBT alumni community, is difficult to gauge. Secretary of the Pride Alliance Lenore Bell '08 suggested that the College's absence on The Advocate's list could be due to the factor of LGBT alumni support on the "gay point average."
Bell added that she was surprised that the College did not make the list. She also considers Smith College to be a LGBT-friendly campus, and said that she was disappointed that it did not make the top 100. Bell suggested that perhaps the College did not make the top 100 because it became co-ed relatively late-in 1978. "Diversity is still really new here," she said.
Other students also expressed surprise at the results, but said that the College's absence from the list did not determine its atmosphere towards LGBTQ students. "[Not making the list] doesn't mean that we're not gay-friendly," said LGBTQA Coordinator Craig Cullinane. "This is a really accepting campus."
However, students see room for improvement. Co-chair of the Pride Alliance Chase Tanenbaum '09 mentioned that he and Aya Hamano '09 are currently petitioning Residential Life for co-ed housing. "There are steps we need to and are starting to take," he said.