Co-ed rooms should be students' choice

It looks like President Dye has outsmarted the student senate. Now, while most people probably don't think that's a very difficult feat to accomplish, it is surprising considering the issue is co-ed rooms, or "co-ed living arrangements." One wouldn't want to give trustees and parents the wrong idea. Boys and girls won't actually be sharing rooms, there will still be a wall with a door separating the sexes.

Dye's maneuver is surprising, considering that last year she was strongly opposed to co-ed rooms, and many had the impression that she still held that opinion for most of last week. But while the sudden flip-flop seems rather odd, as long as it results in the students' favor, one can't really complain.

One does have to wonder, however, why it took two years for anyone to figure out that since there is no written rule against co-ed rooms/living arrangements, there is no reason to send a proposal to the general faculty and the Board of Trustees to overturn a rule that doesn't exist.

Whatever the confusion surrounding the logistics of having co-ed rooms/living arrangements, it is about time Oberlin recognized that in loco parentis is way outdated. One would hope that the administration recognizes the fact that Oberlin students are mature, responsible beings, capable of making personal decisions regarding issues such as "living arrangements."