AU is a school that prides itself on its diversity, its progressive attitudes and its commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for each one of its students. In accordance with these ideals, our student body has developed a well-deserved LGBT-friendly reputation.
Early this month, Student Government President Tim McBride and the Residence Hall Association further cemented this reputation when Housing and Dining announced AU will offer additional gender-neutral housing next fall — the direct result of a joint RHA-SG campaign.
AU previously offered gender-neutral housing only to upperclassmen in Nebraska Hall and the AU-owned Berks. Starting this fall, the University will offer gender-neutral housing in Roper and Centennial Halls, ensuring freshmen can live in a receptive environment of their choice.
By offering this option to all students, AU joins the more than 60 universities and colleges across the country that offer gender-neutral housing to all students regardless of academic year, a number that has more than tripled in the past six years. Yale, Columbia, George Washington and Ohio University have adopted this policy within the last nine months alone.
To be sure, supporters of this trend have cultivated it nationwide. And a brief overview demonstrates just how convincing their arguments are.
Conventional gender-based housing is a relic from a past that simply ignores the existence of homosexuality and assumes an absolute gender identity. The tradition of separating men and women is meant to prevent unmarried couples from living together. Clearly the reality of varying sexual orientations and gender identities make this an obsolete measure.
To those who are still hesitant about the idea of co-ed roommates, Corey Prachniak, a sophomore at Georgetown University, says it well on the National Student Genderblind Campaign’s website: “Putting a man and a woman together doesn’t mean that they’ll have a sexual relationship, and putting men with men and women with women doesn’t mean that they won’t.”
Sexual relationships aside, gender-based housing places those who identify with neither gender or are transitioning in an awkward bind, forcing them to conform to a restrictive gender duality. Unfortunately this increases the risk that they are forced to live with someone not understanding or respectful of their lifestyle. And as Rutgers freshmen Tyler Clementi’s heart-wrenching suicide demonstrated last fall, such situations can end in tragedy.
Admittedly, gender-neutral housing won’t supplant the standard housing arrangements anytime soon. Indeed, the National Student Genderblind Campaign estimates that, in universities that offer the option, between 1 to 3 percent of students choose to live in gender-neutral housing.
Nevertheless, focusing on these small percentages misses the point. It is the availability of the option itself that is important. For AU, that’s 60 to 180 more students who are able to live in the environment they find most welcoming.
The Eagle applauds the SG and RHA for their successful campaign, which exerted a constant pressure leading to this gradual change, and Housing and Dining for being attuned to students’ needs. Once the option was offered to upperclassmen in Nebraska Hall, the question was not if, but when AU would offer gender-neutral housing to all. We’re pleased we now have an answer. ? E
edpage@theeagleonline.com
