A recent resolution approved at Duke University moves the school one step closer to having gender-neutral housing available on campus.
Students at UNC should realize that if they want to see similar success, they must be the ones leading the charge.
Rick Bradley, assistant director of communication and assignments for UNC Housing and Residential Education, said UNC has looked into the issue but has not pursued it due to a lack of interest from students. The University is clearly receptive to the idea. But students must take the lead.
The process will not be easy, however. It’s illegal for unmarried individuals of the opposite sex to cohabit in N.C..
And while this legal hurdle may cause some otherwise supportive members of the cause to throw up their hands in frustration, this is hardly the right attitude. It is possible for outdated and unjust laws to be done away with. But they will not disappear on their own.
Gender-neutral housing offers several benefits for students. It provides greater flexibility for those who might not be comfortable rooming with members of the same sex and alleviates some problems transgender students face in finding a roommate.
Considering students are required to live on campus for at least one year, the University should do its best to provide the most equitable and accommodating housing possible.
Student Body President-elect Mary Cooper expressed support for gender-neutral housing in her platform.
But given the sheer volume of the platform and Cooper’s limited time, students must make clear which issues matter most to them. This sort of social change is not something that is going to come from the top down.
