University of Pittsburgh is certainly not breaking new ground here. I once saw a whole list of schools that had "transgendered dorms" where students were housed with other students of their affiliated gender identity. These dorm's weren't limited to people who were transgendered. In fact many Transgendered students were roomed with other genetic boys and girls.
The article brings up that the "Family advocacy organization" question that the university is opening up the opportunity of assault? If there is going to be an assault there are probably far greater precipitating factors other than just having the students' room together.
Nearly 15 years ago, I attended a state school, and lived in a dorm that mainly housed medical students and a few select others....I was in the few select others category. The girls and the guys ended up sharing the same large bathroom containing multiple stalls & showers and a counter a mile long with several sinks. To my knowledge there was no incidence of anything. I'm pretty certain that it wasn't specifically sanctioned by the university to be this way, but it was certainly known(which is how I ended up there). Every one of my dorm-mates were very respectful of everyone else.
We don't need this to be a don't ask don't tell or secretive type of situation, like it was 15-20 years ago. Let the students decide who they want to room with. One of the main points of college is, development for adult life. Assault should always be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However the fear of it, should not restrict normal law abiding students to restrict who they choose to room with.
