Board rejects gender-neutral housing

Four years after its original proposal, a decision has been reached on the gender-neutral housing bill. At its May meeting, the Drew University Board of Trustees decided against the proposal, which would have allowed students of the opposite sex to live together in a dormitory setting.

Students who still wish to pursue gender-neutral housing may do so on a case-by-case basis by petitioning the Office of Campus Life and Student Affairs. Ginny Samuel, the interim dean of campus life and student affairs, will evaluate each situation separately, a process which is designed to accommodate students in need and to prevent controversy. "All people and all circumstances are different," Samuel said. "Individual cases need individual attention, and I'm committed to looking at each one fairly."

President Bob Weisbuch, though in favor of a pilot program, is satisfied with the decision handed down by the Board of Trustees. "I understand that this is something the student body wants," Weisbuch said. "But the community is made up of more than just students. It also includes people like alumni, and many of them were very worried about it. However, Drew is small enough that we can deal with each student's case individually. This way we can be more flexible and less polemic, and all works towards a satisfactory conclusion to this issue."

Many of the students who were involved in the proposal's preparation, however, are not satisfied with the Board's decision. "It's really unfortunate that it got denied, especially with rising discrimination at Drew," Goldberg said. "This is something that would have helped students feel more comfortable expressing themselves on campus."

Though she is disappointed with the decision, Etkowicz said that she understands the board's position. "There's a lot of gray area. There are a lot of elements to consider when making this decision-current students, alumni, and prospective students and their parents." While acknowledging the difficulties inherent in making the decision, Etkowicz feels that the process is not over. "This is something that has always had the full support of the SGA. It will be revamped and reworked-it's not being forgotten."

"It's in the students' hands now," Ramey said. "I'd encourage them to do what they need to do - either to petition on an individual basis, or to continue the proposal process."

Members of the administration, however, are unsure of the merits of a renewed proposal process. "Students are more than welcome to forward another proposal," Chief Communications Officer David Muha said. "But unless they present substantially different arguments, I don't know if the decision would be likely to change."

Weisbuch is of the same opinion. "It has been dealt with at this time, in terms of the board and the administration. I would not be optimistic for a different conclusion should it be presented again," he said. However, he stressed that the decision was not necessarily a no vote, but rather a decision to handle things on a case-by-case basis.

Jen Dugan ('08), former Alliance chair and member, was one of the original creators of the proposal. "I understand that a lot of people will be disheartened with this decision," Dugan said. While she is glad that transgender students now have some recourse for their housing issues, she is dissatisfied with the narrow window of opportunity the ruling creates. "We never wanted this to be a 'queer' issue," Dugan said. "From the beginning, we have wanted to represent all students on this issue."

Despite her misgivings on the decision, Dugan does not view the decision against gender-neutral housing as a failure. "Maybe we didn't get exactly what we wanted, but we influenced so many people's hearts and minds along the way," Dugan said.

She suggests that student advocates of gender-neutral housing focus on the fact that while working on this proposal, they were able to educate the campus about the issues surrounding gender-neutral housing and to connect with students, faculty and alumni that they had been unable to reach in years past. "I guess it depends on what you view as success, but I think what we've done is a huge success."

Current members of the Alliance were either unable to be reached for comment.