The Daily OrangeHousing pilot program to open gender-neutral housing
Gender-neutral housing to debut next fall
By Kathleen Ronayne
Posted: 10/20/09, 4:03 AM EST Section: News
Fifty years ago, males and females at Syracuse University could not live next door to each other. They could not even live on the same floor.
Today, all but one of SU's dormitories is co-ed. The university plans to further this housing evolution with a pilot program in fall 2010 that will allow students to live with a member of the opposite sex.
During the regular housing process, sophomores, juniors and seniors will now have the option of rooming with the opposite sex. Roommates will only be allowed to live in two-person suites and South Campus apartments, said Terra Peckskamp, interim director of the Office of Residence Life.
Seventy-four suites on Main Campus fit the criteria for gender-neutral housing, said Neil Casey, Student Association chief of staff. Two-person suites, including those in Haven and Booth halls, would be available to those interested, ORL officials said.
Students choosing gender-neutral housing will participate in the normal housing selection process that occurs every spring semester. But they will not be given any more priority for room selection than students who choose traditional rooming, Peckskamp said.
"If it's truly gender-neutral, then your gender selection choice of roommate shouldn't have an impact, one way or the other," she said.
Amit Taneja, associate director of SU's LGBT Resource Center, said that SU officials should not be in charge of choosing students' roommates based on gender.
"Who are we to say you need to live with a male or you need to live with a female?" Taneja said.
In 2006, the university updated its non-discrimination policy to protect students from being discriminated against on the basis of gender identity and expression, Taneja said. These changes were made to be more welcoming to transgender students, faculty and staff. The new housing option will be inclusive as well.
An official policy for the pilot program has not yet been set by the university, but will most likely be released some time in November, Peckskamp said.
Today, all but one of SU's dormitories is co-ed. The university plans to further this housing evolution with a pilot program in fall 2010 that will allow students to live with a member of the opposite sex.
During the regular housing process, sophomores, juniors and seniors will now have the option of rooming with the opposite sex. Roommates will only be allowed to live in two-person suites and South Campus apartments, said Terra Peckskamp, interim director of the Office of Residence Life.
Seventy-four suites on Main Campus fit the criteria for gender-neutral housing, said Neil Casey, Student Association chief of staff. Two-person suites, including those in Haven and Booth halls, would be available to those interested, ORL officials said.
Students choosing gender-neutral housing will participate in the normal housing selection process that occurs every spring semester. But they will not be given any more priority for room selection than students who choose traditional rooming, Peckskamp said.
"If it's truly gender-neutral, then your gender selection choice of roommate shouldn't have an impact, one way or the other," she said.
Amit Taneja, associate director of SU's LGBT Resource Center, said that SU officials should not be in charge of choosing students' roommates based on gender.
"Who are we to say you need to live with a male or you need to live with a female?" Taneja said.
In 2006, the university updated its non-discrimination policy to protect students from being discriminated against on the basis of gender identity and expression, Taneja said. These changes were made to be more welcoming to transgender students, faculty and staff. The new housing option will be inclusive as well.
An official policy for the pilot program has not yet been set by the university, but will most likely be released some time in November, Peckskamp said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Erik
posted 10/20/09 @ 11:23 AM EST
Are you kidding? This will be primarily Romantic Hetero Couples. Good luck with that.
anonymous
posted 10/20/09 @ 11:29 AM EST
Disaster waiting to happen.
M.
posted 10/20/09 @ 12:36 PM EST
It's all good and well, and I think it's a really good choice. I imagine there will be plenty of people trying to work the system to room with their significant other of the opposite sex. (Continued…)
Marcel Wurms
posted 10/20/09 @ 6:15 PM EST
Actually, I believe it's been only thirty 33 years that students have been living on the same floor. I lived on Flint 4C in the '76 - '77 year. That year was the first year that coed floors were allowed. (Continued…)
Lauren
posted 10/21/09 @ 11:37 AM EST
Don't get me started. Gender-neutral? What kind of title is that? Are we going along with society in trying to say that there is no difference between males and females? Should we take the words he and she out of the dictionary? I would hope in my lifetime that a girl will always be girl and a guy can stay a guy. (Continued…)
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