Gender-neutral options stalled

UNC-CH students are struggling to find their voice in the conversation on systemwide gender-neutral housing options after the Board of Governors banned the policy in August.

Students and activists have begun exploring alternative housing options for LGBT students at state schools but haven’t made concrete progress. But next year, Duke University will expand its gender-neutral housing program.

“For some students, having this option is critically important to providing them the housing environment that they will really thrive in,” said Joe Gonzalez, Duke University’s dean for residential life.

He said Duke plans to implement gender-neutral housing on East Campus, where freshmen live — the option has been available on Central and West Campuses since 2012 and 2013, respectively. Gender-neutral housing will now be available on Duke’s entire campus, in residence halls and apartments, he said.

He said Duke’s student government and other groups campaigned to make gender-neutral housing a reality.

But the UNC-system Board of Governors voted to ban the same option for the system, sparking discussions among advocates about the next step.

Andrew Wood, co-chairman of the Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach Committee in UNC-CH student government, and other students met in September with Kevin FitzGerald, chief of staff to UNC-system President Tom Ross and Robert Nunnery, president of the system Association of Student Governments.

Wood said the meeting was to propose alternatives to gender-neutral housing.

But FitzGerald said he was unsure of what progress has been made since then.

System leaders have tapped ASG to develop the options and communicate with system schools. Nunnery said he hopes to create policies that both help students as they apply for housing and serve as response guidelines if an issue occurs.

“It still remains a priority for me as ASG president,” he said.

While board members made it clear that they will not reverse their decision, Wood said they started to create a safety and security policy for the system.

“The (board needs) to include some policy that specifically addresses the sexuality and gender minority safety and security,” Wood said.

But he said the policy would likely not be finished soon.

“It’s difficult getting in contact with (board members), despite them saying they’re very approachable,” Wood said.

The next step is mobilizing students across the state, he said.

“We recognize that the climate of this state right now is a very difficult climate to get these kinds of progressive policies through.”

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