Gender-Neutral housing proposal gains Senate endorsement
Olympia Sonnier '10
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
The much speculated and rumored about Gender-Neutral Housing Proposal was brought before the Student Government Associate this past week in order to gain Senate's endorsement prior to heading to the administration for final review. Spearheading the effort is Eric Eid-Reiner '11, who, along with 20 other students, drafted a full proposal, which summarizes the logistics and reasoning behind gender neutral housing. It also cites other colleges, especially in the northeastern United States, that have also adopted a gender-neutral housing program.
The proposal outlines the necessity for Gender-Neutral rooming stipulating that "in practice, the Office of Residential Life does not allow students to have roommates of the 'opposite' gender or sex. However, the Wheaton Student Handbook does not state that students must room with others of the same gender or sex." The proposal takes a two-pronged approach to gender-neutral rooming. The first step addresses upperclassmen who, if the proposal passes, would be able to live with anyone they choose, no matter the gender, barring the floor or dorm is not single sex.
The second, and more controversial issue, is freshman housing. The committee proposed to include the option for gender-neutral rooming in the freshmen housing questionnaire. The proposal states "the Roommate Questionnaire should be changed to read 'Sex/Gender" instead of 'Sex.' This way, students would not feel restricted to responding solely on the basis of their biological/physical sex." The committee also suggests adding a new section to the form which would result in students choosing their roommate preference as same sex/gender, opposite sex/gender, or no preference.
Marie-Sophie Ritter '12 noted that "as a freshman I think it would be a little scary to room with someone of a different gender. But people are more comfortable once you get to school and know your classmates, so I think that's a choice that people can make for themselves." This year's freshmen class and future Wheaties will be the most affected by the Gender-Neutral Housing Proposal.
Senators expressed concerns regarding freshmen housing, the issue of couples rooming together, and on single-sex floors.
The committee also expressed their personal beliefs behind their argument, stating "we believe that students should not have to decide between concealing their identity or 'out-ing' themselves."
The proposal outlines the necessity for Gender-Neutral rooming stipulating that "in practice, the Office of Residential Life does not allow students to have roommates of the 'opposite' gender or sex. However, the Wheaton Student Handbook does not state that students must room with others of the same gender or sex." The proposal takes a two-pronged approach to gender-neutral rooming. The first step addresses upperclassmen who, if the proposal passes, would be able to live with anyone they choose, no matter the gender, barring the floor or dorm is not single sex.
The second, and more controversial issue, is freshman housing. The committee proposed to include the option for gender-neutral rooming in the freshmen housing questionnaire. The proposal states "the Roommate Questionnaire should be changed to read 'Sex/Gender" instead of 'Sex.' This way, students would not feel restricted to responding solely on the basis of their biological/physical sex." The committee also suggests adding a new section to the form which would result in students choosing their roommate preference as same sex/gender, opposite sex/gender, or no preference.
Marie-Sophie Ritter '12 noted that "as a freshman I think it would be a little scary to room with someone of a different gender. But people are more comfortable once you get to school and know your classmates, so I think that's a choice that people can make for themselves." This year's freshmen class and future Wheaties will be the most affected by the Gender-Neutral Housing Proposal.
Senators expressed concerns regarding freshmen housing, the issue of couples rooming together, and on single-sex floors.
The committee also expressed their personal beliefs behind their argument, stating "we believe that students should not have to decide between concealing their identity or 'out-ing' themselves."
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