Exploring gender-neutral housing at USD
The University of South Dakota would benefit from gender-neutral housing, because it would allow transgendered individuals the comfort of living with the sex they feel most comfortable with.
When I first applied to USD, I was most excited about the dorm life. I was ready to interact with new people from all around the region and stay up all hours of the night watching movies.
But when I went to apply for housing, something caught my eye that I didn’t understand. I only had the option to room with a member of the same-sex.
I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing, but something more like a 19th century ideal that hasn’t evolved as much as it should. When I heard about the debate for gender-neutral housing, I was excited for the progress USD was pushing for on campus. I was especially excited for transgendered students who might find rooming with the sex they identify with more to have a better college experience.
I remember in elementary school when having a girl sleep over was a big issue and never allowed. Now, for most students, we are 18 or older. At every age level, we should be allowed to room with whomever we want, same gender or not.
Times have definitely changed with the acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender rights and awareness; it now seems society is progressing towards a brighter future. The only reason the new policy would be an issue is with first-year students’ parents worrying their son or daughter will be more likely to engage in sexual activity, if they room with the opposite sex.
However, if a person wants to have sex, they can go to any room and have sex. Parental worries should not dictate how we are roomed. It is a matter of parents letting go of their children, and letting them grow up.
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