Spring Break
ResLife Shakes It Up With Co-Ed Experiment
Kate King
Issue date: 11/26/07 Section: News
Although the Rainbow Center is an important partnership, the LGBT community is not the sole reason behind the decision to explore gender-neutral housing, according to Armstrong. However, she expects that the LGBT community "will probably garner a strong percent of the population" of gender-neutral housing.
Students will not have to identify their reasons for wanting to live in gender-neutral housing, according to Armstrong. The six students who are part of the current program were not asked why they wanted to participate.
Tran, who is gay, is part of the pilot program and likes living in gender-neutral housing. The main benefit for him is that he doesn't have to deal with the awkwardness of living with a straight roommate who might not be comfortable with his sexuality.
"I personally find that [gender-neutral housing] is a better situation for me, it's not for everyone but I personally feel better living with a girl," Tran said, adding that in his living arrangement last year he felt uncomfortable discussing that he was gay with his straight roommate and "bringing relationships back to the dorm room."
Tran does believe that there are a few kinks with the program that need to be worked out. For example, there was confusion at the beginning of the year because the floor's community assistant had not been informed about the pilot program.
In the future, Tran would like to see the program develop better training for CAs and also more awareness for gender-neutral housing on campus. He also cited the need for gender-neutral bathrooms.
However, on the whole, Tran is happy with his experience in gender-neutral housing.
"I think it's a very good idea. I think it gives students the opportunity to not be limited by their gender and room on the basis of who they want to relate with and who they get along with rather than gender," Tran said.
Alison Berk, a 7th-semester philosophy major and Tran's roommate, likes living in gender-neutral housing also.
Students will not have to identify their reasons for wanting to live in gender-neutral housing, according to Armstrong. The six students who are part of the current program were not asked why they wanted to participate.
Tran, who is gay, is part of the pilot program and likes living in gender-neutral housing. The main benefit for him is that he doesn't have to deal with the awkwardness of living with a straight roommate who might not be comfortable with his sexuality.
"I personally find that [gender-neutral housing] is a better situation for me, it's not for everyone but I personally feel better living with a girl," Tran said, adding that in his living arrangement last year he felt uncomfortable discussing that he was gay with his straight roommate and "bringing relationships back to the dorm room."
Tran does believe that there are a few kinks with the program that need to be worked out. For example, there was confusion at the beginning of the year because the floor's community assistant had not been informed about the pilot program.
In the future, Tran would like to see the program develop better training for CAs and also more awareness for gender-neutral housing on campus. He also cited the need for gender-neutral bathrooms.
However, on the whole, Tran is happy with his experience in gender-neutral housing.
"I think it's a very good idea. I think it gives students the opportunity to not be limited by their gender and room on the basis of who they want to relate with and who they get along with rather than gender," Tran said.
Alison Berk, a 7th-semester philosophy major and Tran's roommate, likes living in gender-neutral housing also.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
cypher66
Red
posted 2/14/08 @ 1:40 PM EST
This is idea is pretty ridiculous. Could you imagine asking you cousin or sister to free up the room for the night so you can have your girlfriend over. (Continued…)
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