2008 Woodie Awards
Board rejects gender-neutral housing
Kirstin Bethavas
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
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."
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."
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 16
Interesting
posted 9/05/08 @ 1:40 PM EST
This issue could have been easily solved if the administration had bothered to reach out to alumni on the issue. My guess is that the majority would support it or, at the very least, not interfere with the student body's wishes. (Continued…)
John Doe
posted 9/15/08 @ 10:30 PM EST
Do you really see this as a positive selling point for students and parents considering Drew? If this passed, the student body would have become even more liberal. (Continued…)
Jackie Ryan
posted 9/16/08 @ 7:16 PM EST
It is disappointing to see that the gender-neutral housing bill--which many students have spent their Drew careers pushing for, and which is so important to so many students--has been denied. (Continued…)
Walls
posted 9/16/08 @ 11:54 PM EST
Jackie couldn't have said it better. It is hard to believe that alumni and trustees would be so quick to deny the wishes of the current student population. (Continued…)
Jack Frost
posted 9/26/08 @ 6:11 AM EST
Here's an idea, find something real to complain about.
Jen
posted 9/26/08 @ 11:07 AM EST
Re: Mr. Frost's comment
One thing I'll never understand about some students: Why some of them are so quick to pull judge the work of others. Basically, a select few see something they don't like and then accuse the students behind it of "caring about no other issue" and of "complaining. (Continued…)
Jamie Douglas
posted 9/30/08 @ 8:04 AM EST
David, no offense, but where is your full name if you're gonna accuse someone else of not posting theirs....
I don't know what the big deal is about this and it kinda seems like a waste of time to me, but to each their own I suppose. (Continued…)
Jen Dugan
posted 9/30/08 @ 9:18 PM EST
Jamie,
Thank you for posting the words, "to each their own." Volumes are spoken in that phrase. So again, thank you.
The rest of this is not in response to Jamie. (Continued…)
Eugene Lisansky
posted 10/11/08 @ 9:55 AM EST
As a 1977 graduate of Drew, I was shocked, but not suprised to hear of the Trustees' narrow-minded (and probably financially motivated) decision re gender-neutral housing. (Continued…)
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