UNC board bans 'gender-neutral' housing on campuses
Caitlin Owens, August 9, 2013
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/09/3095006/unc-board-bans-gender-neutral.htmlThe governing board of the UNC system voted unanimously Friday to ban campuses from letting students of opposite genders live in the same dorm suites or apartments.
The decision reverses a housing policy that was unanimously endorsed by UNC-Chapel Hill's Board of Trustees last year, and it comes just days before the plan was to take effect on the Chapel Hill campus.
"Gender-neutral" housing was pushed for more than a year by UNC-CH students who said it would give some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students a place to live free of harassment. Opponents, though, didn't like the idea of any students of opposite genders sharing the same bathrooms or living areas.
"Our board wants every student to be safe, comfortable and included," said Peter Hans, chairman of the UNC Board of Governors. "The board believes there are more practical ways to achieve those goals than assigning young men and young women to the same dorm rooms and suites."
