Group proposes changes to make AU more gender neutral
With help from the Division of Student Affairs and the Workgroup on Transgender issues, AU resident halls are in for a co-ed change, with special attention to the bathroom facilities.
According to an article from The Department of Student Affairs, “It has been the charge of the Workgroup on Transgender issues to thoroughly review the needs of transgender students as they relate to a variety of areas within Alfred University."
The article goes on to explain that in the Oct. 16, 2009 issue of Diversity in Academe from the Chronicle of Higher Education, there was an article entitled, “Changing Genders, Changing Policies," which outlines "how a campus can move toward being more inclusive of the transgender population.”
According to the website "Out Now," the word "transgender" refers to "those whose gender expression or identity transgresses socially assigned gender roles or expectation, or who do not identify as either of the two sexes as currently defined."
Discussion of changes at AU came about after a transgender student brought it the attention of Director of Resident Life Brenda Porter that most of the residence hall bathrooms are gender biased--either male or female. With the bathrooms the way they are, it’s somewhat difficult and even uncomfortable at times for the transgendered population at AU.
Though not all AU residence hall bathrooms are gender-neutral, the ones that are include: the Ford St. Apartments, Pine Hill suites, Special Interest Houses, Bartlett Hall and Ann’s House, which are all co-ed by door. Not many changes will be needed to be made to any of them.
The Brick and Joel’s House are also co-ed by door, but the suggested changes are floor-to-ceiling lockable partitions for the showers, to make the bathrooms co-ed.
For the remaining residence halls, including Kruson Hall and all of the first year halls, more significant changes will have to be made. Some of the changes being discussed include: changing the floors to co-ed by door, reconstructing the bathrooms to be more like the ones in Ann’s House or reconstructing the bathrooms to look like the ones in Kruson Hall.
Along with modifications to the residence halls, there are other adjustments in the works to help transgender students feel more comfortable. The BANNER program known as “preferred name and pronoun,” created by The University of Vermont, allows students to change their preferred name and pronoun in the online BANNER system, and AU is looking to adopt the program.
According to an article from The Department of Student Affairs, “[The University of Vermont] has agreed to share that software with AU and it is suggested that Student Affairs works with the Student Service Center to make this a reality.”
While some decisions are being discussed and others are being made keeping the budget in mind, student opinions are welcomed and wanted. Please e-mail The Division of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@alfred.edu.
“Some feedback would be greatly appreciated,” Porter said.
