Outlook gathers support for gender-neutral housing
Alex Walling
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: News
On the second floor of Slayter, representatives from Outlook, Denison's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied (GLBTQA) advocacy group, is collecting signatures for a petition to abolish the ban on students of different genders to share a room, a practice more widely known as gender-neutral housing.
Outlook has been pleased with the petition's success so far.
"Even if only five percent of the student body signs it, that's 100 students who support or would like the option," said Nick Reshan, a sophomore communication major. Reshan is an advocate of the petition and has been energetically promoting it among his peers.
If a proposal were to be enacted, it would be limited to the senior apartments, where each student has his or her own separate bedroom and bathroom. It would also begin with a pilot program, allowing both students and administrators to gauge its success, and then, if administrators judge it to be suitable, would be broadened to the rest of campus.
Reshan argued that the current ban not only discriminates against GLBTQA students but is also predicated on the inaccurate assumption that students would prefer to live separately from those of the opposite sex.
"I do think the plan discriminates against gay students," he said, adding, "As far as I know, the administration believes most students are more comfortable living in a room with someone of their own sex. But that isn't true for all gay or even all straight students, so there should be a gender-neutral option."
Bill Fox, assistant dean of students and director of housing and residential life, welcomed the petition.
"I'm excited by the interest [in gender-neutral housing]," he said.
However, he emphasized that the introduction of gender-neutral housing is still in its early stages and requires a formal proposal drafted and researched by students.
Fox predicted that the discussion over a submitted proposal would continue through the summer and into the early fall. Its adoption will also likely be a prolonged process, as it must receive approval from several campus authorities, including DCGA's residential life committee and the campus affairs council.
Outlook has been pleased with the petition's success so far.
"Even if only five percent of the student body signs it, that's 100 students who support or would like the option," said Nick Reshan, a sophomore communication major. Reshan is an advocate of the petition and has been energetically promoting it among his peers.
If a proposal were to be enacted, it would be limited to the senior apartments, where each student has his or her own separate bedroom and bathroom. It would also begin with a pilot program, allowing both students and administrators to gauge its success, and then, if administrators judge it to be suitable, would be broadened to the rest of campus.
Reshan argued that the current ban not only discriminates against GLBTQA students but is also predicated on the inaccurate assumption that students would prefer to live separately from those of the opposite sex.
"I do think the plan discriminates against gay students," he said, adding, "As far as I know, the administration believes most students are more comfortable living in a room with someone of their own sex. But that isn't true for all gay or even all straight students, so there should be a gender-neutral option."
Bill Fox, assistant dean of students and director of housing and residential life, welcomed the petition.
"I'm excited by the interest [in gender-neutral housing]," he said.
However, he emphasized that the introduction of gender-neutral housing is still in its early stages and requires a formal proposal drafted and researched by students.
Fox predicted that the discussion over a submitted proposal would continue through the summer and into the early fall. Its adoption will also likely be a prolonged process, as it must receive approval from several campus authorities, including DCGA's residential life committee and the campus affairs council.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
julie driscoll
posted 3/09/10 @ 6:16 PM EST
I wish you folks success on the same initiative attempted at DU in 1996! (We were far too ahead of our time for our elders in the Administration to consider such a wild idea. (Continued…)
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