Expanded co-ed housing considered
Thressa Johnson
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: News
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Javier Gutierrez, Director of Residential Life, recently submitted a proposal which would allow more men and women to room together on campus. The option is currently only available if one or both of the students identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Hamline has housing designated for LGBT students, consisting of a floor in Drew Hall and the Spectrum house on Minnehaha Avenue. Both are designed for the "safety and comfort" of students, Gutierrez said. Additionally, men and women can live together in campus apartments within separate bedrooms. Recently, however, interest in mixed-gender housing has increased.
A gay man and a straight woman were the first to approach the Office of Residential Life about sharing a room a few years ago. After making their case and discussing possible concerns with staff, they received approval. An average of two similar requests have been made each year since.
"We have not had any problems. It's shown that it can be successful," Gutierrez said.
Last year, three groups of students approached him, none of whom referred to themselves as LGBT, desiring to live together. Deciding he could not allow it without a policy in place, Gutierrez began work on his proposal.
"We wanted to create a way so they don't have to come out if they don't want to," he said.
The policy would also mean heterosexual friends of opposite genders could room together.
When the results from November's "quality of life" survey showed 64 percent of students would prefer gender-free floors, the desire for more housing options was emphasized.
The proposal requires parental notification, and would not be available to first-years. Romantic partners would not be permitted to live together either.
"This isn't for couples who are dating, but for friends who want to live together," Gutierrez said.
He said they would employ an honor code for potential roommates which would require one to move out if they were to begin dating.
Administrative review is expected to take place soon.
Junior Lewis Mundt, a student of "non-traditional orientation," and sophomore Lyndsey Harter currently live together on campus, and support residential life's proposal to expand the experience.
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