Rutgers To Introduce Co-Ed "Gender Neutral" Dorm Rooms

Rutgers University came under fire last year when Freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide after finding out his roommate had seen him engaged in sexual conduct with another man over a webcam. Clementi's parents decided to sue the school, saying they hadn't done enough to make their soon feel safe, which includes an allegedly slow response to complaints about his roommate that Clementi filed with the school. So in an effort to make LGBT students more comfortable living on campus, Rutgers undergrads in Demarest Hall, New Gibbons and Rockoff Hall will have the option to room with a person of the opposite sex. And parents wont be able to protest.

The "gender-neutral" housing will allow gay, lesbian and transgender students to room with male or female roommates. Heterosexual students will be allowed to room with people of either gender as well, and students won't be asked to reveal their sexual orientation. "We’re not asking students their relationships," Joan Carbone, the university’s executive director of residence life, told NJ.com. "People should not have to declare their sexual preference to us." The bathrooms in the hall would also be co-ed. However, students would not be placed with a random roommate of the opposite sex. The roommate would have to be someone they choose.

One student said, "I’m really glad they did it, although I wish it wouldn’t have taken as long. We live in a world where in order to be considered a human being you have to be male or female, and not everyone fits into that kind of binary. It’s important to have spaces where people don’t necessarily have to worry." We also live in a world where men and women are allowed to be friends, and students of any sexual orientation should have the option of living with someone they know and trust, regardless of gender. Of course, the program does open the option of opposite-sex couples being allowed to room together—a potentially volatile situation. Carbone said that if one roommate drops out they will be replaced with someone of the remaining roommate's "legal gender." Both NYU and Columbia have "gender neutral" housing options on campus.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on March 1, 2011 3:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Dale

This is wonderful to hear! Gendered bathrooms are an antiquated idea that not only put numerous gender-questioning people in an uncomfortable and embarrassing position but also put women at risk of assault. The bathrooms in my college dorm were gendered, but due to their poor placement on opposite ends of long hallways and the students' apathy to such gender divisions, everyone used them regardless of what word was on the door.

Also, I always found it hilarious that, being a progressive liberal-arts college, my school was perfectly willing to have co-ed roommates, but conservative puritanical state law prevented it from happening. So a lot of same-sex couples were able to room together while opposite-sex couples could not. If only those state legislators knew what progressive living situations their out-dated laws resulted in!

Len_Drexler

Co-ed bathrooms? Good luck with that. My freshman year one of the dorms tried that and it was the guys that put an end to it after a week. They didn't want the women to know the full extent of their gastrointestinal issues after a night of Taco Bell and binge drinking cheap beer.

neuroradical

Was listening to folks on the radio and tv news go crazy over this. It's really not a big deal. My college allowed coed roommate situations. Not many took advantage of it cause straight college students aren't actually as irresponsible about roommate choices as everyone seems to think they are.

Heck, virtually all of our bathrooms and showers were coed and that was never a problem that I'm aware of.

random transplant

That might help. Its great that Rutgers is trying to adapt...

Roger_the_Shrubber

'"And parents wont be able to protest."

Unless, of course, they close their checkbooks and make junior pay his own damn tuition.

random transplant

Believe it or not, lots of State students pay their own way already.

Nothing says dumb decisions like "free after 18 years of overbearing daddy complex".

sean chiang

", saying they hadn't done enough to make their soon feel safe, which includes an allegedly slow response to "

soon should be son unless i am mistaken

silver

Wait until the 2 freshmen lovebirds break up over thanksgiving, and then bring their new opposite sex partner over to the dorm room for some hot revenge sex. Violence and hilarity ensues.