Ohio University’s Student Senate unanimously voted to support the continuation of what members consider one of its proudest achievements — student housing that doesn’t discriminate by gender.
Senate passed a resolution calling for the permanent installation of OU’s gender-neutral housing program for the next academic year.
“This is an opportunity that isn’t offered at many other universities,” Women’s Affairs Commissioner Victoria Calderon said.
Before senate voted on the resolution, LGBT Affairs Commissioner Amelia Shaw gave senate a presentation about the pilot program.
“I really want to see the program continue because I want a (LGBT) first-year to come into it and, hopefully, change their whole college career,” Shaw said.
Gender-neutral housing is a special housing option based on the compatibility of the residents, not their gender.
This year, the pilot program is on the third floor of Smith House on South Green, where Shaw is a resident assistant. Students were able to apply for the option for the first time this year, and 15 students are currently participating, Shaw said.
She added that, while other RAs were making signs that identified the Smith restrooms as men’s or women’s, she was making signs that say “occupied” or “unoccupied” to hang on the door of the gender-neutral restrooms.
Shaw said many students who identify as transgender experienced difficulties with OU’s two-year on-campus housing requirement because, for example, a transgender student who was born female but identifies as male still must live in women’s housing.
The current option for students in similar situations is to call residential housing and ask for special accommodations. The accommodations provided are “medical rooms,” and are more expensive.
“If you’re placed in a ‘special’ room because you’re ‘special,’ you feel immediately ostracized,” Shaw said. “I don’t feel that students should have to change who they are for the housing system. I feel the housing system should change for them.”
tl674710@ohiou.edu
Editor's note: This story was modified to clarify that not all students participating in gender-neutral housing identify as LGBT.
