Your money, your roommate, your choice
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Editorial
If you pay $12,780 in rent to spend a year in an on-campus double, you should be comfortable. That was the basic principle behind the Student Government Association's push for gender-neutral housing.
Yesterday, after a year of deliberation and debate, the administration showed that it agrees.
In an e-mail to former and current dorm dwellers, Dean of Students Ronald Ludman announced yesterday that Emerson will launch a pilot gender-neutral housing program for returning students next fall. Consenting participants will be able to live with roommates and suitemates of their choosing, regardless of gender.
This is a major step forward for student rights, and a reason for us to be proud to attend the spirited college on Boylston and Tremont.
Emerson has already proved itself a very gay-friendly institution in many ways-we are one of only a dozen colleges that cover hormone treatments and sexual reassignment surgeries in student health insurance. In the past, the college has implemented gender-neutral bathrooms and allowed students to change names on their Emerson e-mail addresses should they also change genders. A few months ago, The Princeton Review named Emerson the fifth-most gay-accepting college in the country.
This new housing policy, however, will not affect the LGBTQ community alone. Straight students will also be allowed to chose who they live with, which will undoubtably make their living arrangements more enjoyable and fair.
The college should be applauded for heeding its students' call. By letting students make choices for themselves based on their personal preferences and sexual orientations, the school recognizes us for what we are: competent adults. There are no apparent ulterior motives to this move. The administration saw that the current situation is unjust and did what was right.
We should also thank our student leaders, most of all SGA President Scott Fisher, who has consistently made gender-neutral living a priority.
Yesterday, after a year of deliberation and debate, the administration showed that it agrees.
In an e-mail to former and current dorm dwellers, Dean of Students Ronald Ludman announced yesterday that Emerson will launch a pilot gender-neutral housing program for returning students next fall. Consenting participants will be able to live with roommates and suitemates of their choosing, regardless of gender.
This is a major step forward for student rights, and a reason for us to be proud to attend the spirited college on Boylston and Tremont.
Emerson has already proved itself a very gay-friendly institution in many ways-we are one of only a dozen colleges that cover hormone treatments and sexual reassignment surgeries in student health insurance. In the past, the college has implemented gender-neutral bathrooms and allowed students to change names on their Emerson e-mail addresses should they also change genders. A few months ago, The Princeton Review named Emerson the fifth-most gay-accepting college in the country.
This new housing policy, however, will not affect the LGBTQ community alone. Straight students will also be allowed to chose who they live with, which will undoubtably make their living arrangements more enjoyable and fair.
The college should be applauded for heeding its students' call. By letting students make choices for themselves based on their personal preferences and sexual orientations, the school recognizes us for what we are: competent adults. There are no apparent ulterior motives to this move. The administration saw that the current situation is unjust and did what was right.
We should also thank our student leaders, most of all SGA President Scott Fisher, who has consistently made gender-neutral living a priority.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Bi folding Sliding Doors UK
posted 1/22/10 @ 3:01 AM EST
Remember that looks can be deceiving, so avoid making snap decisions the first time you see your roommate.
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