College
and OSCA Improve Transgender Housing
To
the Editors:
In
light of Transgender Awareness Week, we are writing to inform you
about some recent changes regarding transgender inclusiveness in
both the mission of OSCA and the housing policy of the Department
of Residential Life.
Last month the housing and dining committee approved two policy
changes. First, all residence halls with three or more bathrooms
would have bathrooms designated specifically for male, female, and
non-gender specific. It will be up to the residents of each building
to determine the location of the bathrooms during the first two
weeks of the fall semester. Second, Residential Life will hold a
number of singles each year for students that identify as transgender
and express a need for the privacy of a single by filling out a
single room exception form. Similarly, OSCA has voted this week
to give singles priority to transgender students who feel uncomfortable
living with a roommate. Also, all housing and dining co-ops with
bathrooms must maintain at least one gender neutral bathroom at
all times. OSCA will also be abandoning all references to biological
sex and instead will use self-identified categories of gender in
all internal and external paperwork.
We thank the community for your support and turnout during Transgender
Awareness Week. If you missed any of the films or would like to
become more involved with the transgender community, there are films
and other resources available at the MRC in Wilder 208.
Kasi
Chakravartula
College senior
Ryan Forsythe
Resident Director
Michael Hartwyk
LGBT Community Coordinator
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