The Daily Eastern News
Rachel Rodgers/Administration Editor
http://www.dennews.com/news/campus/gender-neutral-housing-proposed/article_9a0ca302-10e3-11e1-bfdc-001a4bcf6878.htmlA student presented his concern for the lack of gender-neutral housing available on campus at the weekly Student Senate meeting.
Nico Canaday, a senior English major and president of EIU Pride, said he thinks it would be beneficial to Eastern to provide a gender-neutral housing option to students.
"Over the years I have noticed that there is a distinct lack of safe housing for some students on campus, specifically people who are transgender," Canaday said. "The reality is that not everyone defines themselves as simply male or female and Eastern could do well to implement housing programs for people who are transgender."
He asked the student senate members to consider contracting a survey to poll the student body to assess how people would feel about implementing gender-neutral housing.
"I think this would be a great opportunity for the Student Senate to get involved directly with the student body," Canaday said. "If we offer housing for the LGBT community and specifically transgender people, I think it would draw in more students, more diversity and more money to the university."