On Jan. 24, Student Union Senate discussed endorsing a measure in support of allowing students of opposite genders to live together in Residential Life housing. Student Union (SU) decided to table the matter this past Wednesday to try to get more input from the GLBQTIAA community regarding the wording of the resolution. While we are disappointed that the Senate could not throw their support behind mixed-gender housing just yet, having the issue on the agenda is certainly a laudable first step on the part of SU.

The merits of mixed-gender housing have been discussed previously in this section in response to past ResLife proposals. But the tipping point in getting such a proposal to become policy would be a signal of student approval. A previous poll reported that 67 percent of the student body would be in favor of mixed-gender housing, but only 32 percent of students responded, leaving open the possibility that the results of the poll did not accurately represent the opinion of the student body as a whole. An endorsement from SU, however, would be a further signal that the student body does support mixed-gender housing. As the representative body of the students, SU’s actions could very well be perceived as a reflection of the student body in this matter by ResLife.

“It would be undeniable proof that students are ready and students support it,” said Speaker of the Senate Eric Gradel. Associate Director of Residential Life Cheryl Stephens stated, “It’s really important to the administration that the [impetus for change] comes from the students, so I think that anything they do is going to help.” As such, a concrete sign of student approval, like an SU resolution supporting mixed-gender housing in addition to the previous poll, could be enough to impel the administration to allow students of opposite genders to live together.

Thankfully, Senate appears to realize the importance of mixed-gender housing as well. “It would give students more freedom,” Gradel explained. “Many of us have friends that [are] of the opposite gender . and people who identify with another gender should be able to live with that gender.” Furthermore, the minutes of the meetings declared that supporting mixed-gender housing would “attack an issue of oppression on this campus.” And not having mixed-gender housing is indeed an issue of oppression. As Stephens stated, the current ResLife policy forces students who would want to take advantage of mixed-gender housing to “out themselves.” This forces students who are uncomfortable with living with a member of their sex to either come out, an incredibly hard thing to do, or have a miserable living situation. ResLife has consistently said that their goal is to give students as close to an ideal living situation as possible. Allowing mixed-gender housing is a necessary step to achieve that goal.

Stephens said that there are even parents of incoming freshmen who have asked for mixed-gender housing for their kids. Given enough student support, the answer to that question can soon become yes. “90 percent of students might not know that this can soon be an option,” said Gradel, who hopes to reintroduce this resolution this coming Wednesday. An SU resolution should ultimately prove that there is student support. Taking up the discussion was a good start, and after consulting with the GLBQTIAA community, SU should formally throw its support behind mixed-gender housing.

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