Spring Break
Plan for gender- neutral housing in the works
by Lital Shair
News | 3/18/08
Posted online at 4:31 AM EST on 3/18/08
/ Last updated at 11:08 AM EST on 3/18/08
The Department of Residence Life aims to implement a gender-neutral housing policy which allows for coed rooms after the first two weeks next semester, according to Director of Residence Life Rich DeCapua.
After the first two weeks of each semester, students may request to change rooms. According to a newly proposed plan, students who prefer gender-neutral housing may switch rooms after that period.
Although this initiative will not affect room selection this month, "the student body should expect to see changes as early as this coming fall," such as more comprehensive training on gender-relevant issues for Community Advisors, said Social Justice Committee Senate Chair and Village Quad Senator Michael Kerns '09, who is helping to spearhead this initiative.
Students said they have expressed concerns about the inclusiveness of the housing policy, which currently allows for coed suites and halls but not for coed rooms unless students approach Residence Life with individual concerns.
"We can't rely on the traditional gender binary to be one of those things that we base all policies on, because that's just not true," DeCapua said.
First-years can choose to live on a coed floor. Sophomores and upperclassmen can choose to live in coed suites.
The problem with the traditional housing system, Triskelion president Alice Ittelson '08 said, is that it assumes a static gender and heterosexuality and creates an uncomfortable situation if students must make a special case to Residence Life.
"If you're trans, that means you have to go to Res Life, and you have to out yourself, and for some people that can be an issue," TransBrandeis chairperson Emily Burd '08 said.
This initiative has been a collaborative effort among the Social Justice Committee, Trisk and TransBrandeis, Kerns said.
The group's goals are: a gender neutral housing policy for all upperclassmen and sophomores, "a gender-blind option that does not presuppose or force first-year students to self-identify [with regard to their gender] or live with a same-sex roommate unless they choose to do so," Kerns said. The group also advocates for stronger CA training in gender-related issues.
After the first two weeks of each semester, students may request to change rooms. According to a newly proposed plan, students who prefer gender-neutral housing may switch rooms after that period.
Although this initiative will not affect room selection this month, "the student body should expect to see changes as early as this coming fall," such as more comprehensive training on gender-relevant issues for Community Advisors, said Social Justice Committee Senate Chair and Village Quad Senator Michael Kerns '09, who is helping to spearhead this initiative.
Students said they have expressed concerns about the inclusiveness of the housing policy, which currently allows for coed suites and halls but not for coed rooms unless students approach Residence Life with individual concerns.
"We can't rely on the traditional gender binary to be one of those things that we base all policies on, because that's just not true," DeCapua said.
First-years can choose to live on a coed floor. Sophomores and upperclassmen can choose to live in coed suites.
The problem with the traditional housing system, Triskelion president Alice Ittelson '08 said, is that it assumes a static gender and heterosexuality and creates an uncomfortable situation if students must make a special case to Residence Life.
"If you're trans, that means you have to go to Res Life, and you have to out yourself, and for some people that can be an issue," TransBrandeis chairperson Emily Burd '08 said.
This initiative has been a collaborative effort among the Social Justice Committee, Trisk and TransBrandeis, Kerns said.
The group's goals are: a gender neutral housing policy for all upperclassmen and sophomores, "a gender-blind option that does not presuppose or force first-year students to self-identify [with regard to their gender] or live with a same-sex roommate unless they choose to do so," Kerns said. The group also advocates for stronger CA training in gender-related issues.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 9
Tamara Beliak
posted 3/18/08 @ 8:12 AM EST
So this means that residence halls will be moving a lot of students mid-semester as couples who were together when housing was set -- who break up later in the year need to be rehoused. (Continued…)
Aliya Caler
posted 3/18/08 @ 1:50 PM EST
As a Brandeis Alumni and a student of sexual and reproductive health I would like to commend the Brandeis community for breaking out of the gender binary and working to provide the entire student body with the sense that all students, regardless of their gender performance or sexual preference have rights that must be acknowledged and promoted as vital contributors to the Brandeis Community. (Continued…)
max
posted 3/20/08 @ 9:55 PM EST
Is the only issue here couples living together? I thought part of the point of gender neutral housing was to accommodate people who may not want to identify with a specific gender. (Continued…)
Deena
posted 3/23/08 @ 8:21 AM EST
This was an issue that began discussion in 2003 at Brandeis. As a CA I was part of the original committee that talked about gender neutral housing. Brandeis has always been a progressive institution. (Continued…)
Rebecca
posted 3/24/08 @ 10:48 PM EST
I'm curious - under this policy, could a student be involuntarily placed with someone of the opposite sex/gender who chose not to identify?
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