Bathroom controversy follows opening of new residence hall
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2012
BY CHLOE HUNT | STAFF

http://www.dailycal.org/2012/08/24/bathroom-controversy-follows-opening-of-news-residence-hall/


PHOTO:GRACIE MALLEY/SENIOR STAFF
A women's bathroom sign is covered at Martinez Commons.

Construction still uncompleted, students in the new Maximino Martinez Commons had to quickly adjust to concerns raised over the gender-specific bathrooms in the residence hall when they moved in last week.

Because the eight bathrooms in the newly opened dorm were originally all gender-specific, some residents felt uncomfortable using a gender-designated bathroom. After the concerns were raised, six bathrooms were made coed, according to an email sent to all residents of the building.

"Some people who consider themselves transgender would like the (coed) bathrooms," said Ciera Dudley, a UC Berkeley sophomore and Martinez Commons resident.

She said splitting bathrooms between single-gender and coed was a good compromise.

Although the residence hall ultimately accommodated both gender-specific and coed bathrooms, all eight bathrooms were first changed to coed. Erun Kham, a sophomore living in the new housing facility, said she was unhappy about the switch to gender-inclusive bathrooms when she moved in. For "personal and religious relations" she said she wanted gender-specific bathrooms.