The Board of Trustees made the right call when members unanimously voted to begin a gender-neutral housing program at UNC last year, but after the UNC-system Board of Governors banned it this summer, the BOT needs to push for a new alternative.
The BOG’s argument for the rejection is that members do not believe that young men and women should be allowed to live together and that there are other ways to address the needs of students who feel they would be more comfortable and successful in a gender-neutral environment.
However, new proposals suggest that on housing applications, students have the option to mark whether they would want to live with a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender roommate.
The housing option would be on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that those applying get individual attention from the housing department.
Creating a new living-learning community would also provide these students with a safe, comfortable housing alternative.
Other schools in the UNC system have benefited from gender-neutral housing in the past.
Appalachian State University’s website assures students that the school will work with students on a case-by-case basis to ensure that all students have comfortable and safe housing.
Advocates for the change to gender-neutral housing argue that the option would help LGBT students in particular find a welcoming housing situation.
The BOG’s ban on last year’s gender-neutral housing policy has proven to be an obstacle for the campaign, but the BOT should not allow this to halt all advances toward a gender-neutral option for students.
