Gender-neutral housing proposed

Luther is now open to discussing a proposal for gender-neutral housing.

Gender-neutral housing would open up a co-ed space for students to live and allow mixed gender rooms. Grinnell College is currently the only college in Iowa and one of 37 colleges in the nation to offer this option.

Charles Banta (‘12) set forth the gender-neutral housing proposal.

“[Gender-neutral housing will] provide options for transgender students, students in the process of discovering their gender identity, gay or bisexual students who feel uncomfortable with rooming with members of the same sex, intersex students who do not wish to be identified by any sex and students who feel that they would cooperate better with a roommate of the opposite sex,” Banta said.

Banta is hoping that gender-neutral housing will be implemented on part of Luther’s campus, either by building or by floor. The living space would be co-ed by both floor and by room.

The discussion of whether or not bathrooms would be gender-specific or co-ed is still up for debate and relies on both student opinion and the logistics of female/male representation on the floor.

“We’re required to live on campus for four years, and this just provides another alternative to the current living situations for students,” Banta said.

The proposal currently does not include first-year residents, which means there would be no random co-ed pairings.

“Co-ed rooms and floors should be only allowed for students who are able to consensually pick their roommates,” Banta said. “We want the floor to be open to anyone and everyone who would be interested. We want everyone to be comfortable with their housing situations.”

Banta, who is currently the President of Pride, a Student Senate Representative for gender and sexuality and serves on both the Special Events Committee and the Diversity Council, will present the proposal on behalf of Student Senate at a forum this Sunday, Nov. 20.

“The implementation of gender-neutral housing will be based on student interest,” Banta said.  “We’re hoping to gauge interest and allow students to offer their opinions at the forum.”

In the weeks following the forum, Banta, with the help of Student Senate, is hoping to work with Residence Life in order to shape the proposal and produce a successful implementation for Luther.

Assistant Dean for Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen has been in discussion with Banta about the proposal and the challenges that it faces.

“I will be interested in hearing the final proposal along with input from Luther students at the forum,” Franzen said.

Student Senate will begin with an informal presentation on the gender-neutral housing proposal before opening discussion to those in attendance.

Student Senate Committee Chair of Student Life Lindsey Weaver (‘12) encourages students, staff and faculty to attend the forum.

“We hope to bring together people on all sides of the issue, including those who support, those who oppose and those who wish to learn more about gender-[neutral] housing,” Weaver said.

Student Senate President Jonathan Grieder (‘12) is looking forward to the forum.

“This is just the beginning step of a very long process, but it’s a necessary step to take and Senate is glad that we could extend a hand of friendship to PRIDE in order to make this forum happen,” Grieder said.

The forum will be held Sunday, Nov. 20 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. in Valders 206.