The Undergraduate Senate recently passed a resolution to promote trans-gender issues. Most notably, the resolution explores the creation of gender-neutral floors where students can room with those of the opposite sex and use coed communal bathrooms.
The idea is still in the planning stages. Because such a plan depends almost entirely on students' interest in living on such floors, the university needs to determine whether there is sufficient interest among the student body.
The new housing in the Nebraska Hall suites will allow students to live in coed housing, except in that case each student will have his or her own room. Gender-neutral housing would give the same option to freshmen and those who want to live in a traditional dorm.
The plan is a great idea. AU is already fairly progressive in its student housing (many coed dorms at other schools have only single-sex floors). This is just another step to keep AU in line with the likes of Columbia University and UC Berkeley.
For students who opted to live on such a floor, it would provide an option for students who choose not to identify with a specific gender or those who simply want to live with a friend of the opposite sex. It could keep students in residence halls longer or attract incoming freshmen who would be interested in such a housing option.
The best part is how seriously the administration is taking student feedback. Students are much more likely to accept the change if they are involved in the decision-making process.
