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After learning more about the Stonewall Riots and the recent parade in remembrance of the historic event in Chicago, I was curious this week to learn more about how geographical locations affix certain cultural identities, landmarks or significances to them. Colleges and universities can be historic for a number of movements on behalf of their student body.

So how does our university rank in regards to supporting the LGBT student community? One book provides the answer.

The Advocate College Guide For LGBT Students by Shane L. Windmeyer is a thorough breakdown of about 100 colleges, ranking them in their support and resources for the LGBT student body and community. Windmeyer, among his many books and projects in support the LGBT community, is also co-founder of the Lambda 10 Project.

The 2006 book may need some updated information, but works well to provide student voices on how well they feel their university supports them with “being out” in their community. It also is a great resource for college bound students looking for a safe, supportive and accepting campus all across the country. Or if you’re like me and want to learn how well your university supports all groups within the student body, this book is a great read.

Each college is addressed in about one to two pages, with the information segmented into smaller sections. The book also provides detailed contact information for each college’s admissions office and a calendar of important LGBT events for each college every year.

Each college that the book addresses is ranked on a 20 point scale. The scale includes a number of different categories that each college has or includes in support of the LGBT community. For each service or support system the college includes it gets a point, for every one it doesn’t it loses a point.

My main issue with the book is that although the scale is a simple to use so that you can skim through each college in just a few minutes, some of the scoring is too simple. If one college has an LGBT office and a Pride Day it gets two points, but the community may not be very supportive of LGBT rights. Another school may lack a central office but the campus and community is strongly in support of LBGT students and citizens. This blurs the line that separates some universities with low scores and gives other universities who rank higher in the book like Stanford and Cornell an advantage.

Our university has it’s own LBGT Resource Center, which offers many inclusive programs for LGBT students and allies. The university also breaks ground by being the first to have Greek Allies, sororities and fraternities that are allies of LGBT students. We also offer classes in sociology, theater and Gender and Women Studies which have classes that focus on LGBT issues. We score fairly high in the book with a 16/20.

Overall the book has a wealth of information for prospective students, advocates and allies of LGBT issues alike. And for those that are already in college, it has a number of guest writers writing on topics ranging from how to improve college admissions for LGBT students, advice for LGBT student leaders, advice for people that work in student affairs and advice for minority students within the LBGT community.