Co-ed dorms are a possibility in the near future

Coeducation rooming may become an option in residence halls next school year.
The decision is scheduled to be confirmed or denied on Feb. 21 by President Andrea Chapdelaine and her senior team.
Coeducational rooming, meaning that a boy and a girl can live in the same room, was first introduced as a possible option last spring through a survey given by Residence Life.
Matt Troutman, director of Residence Life, analyzed the results of the survey and made changes accordingly.
“Students were indifferent to the questions of co-educational rooms,” he said.
Despite the indifference to co-educational room option, it wasn’t being discussed as a policy change until this semester. One of the immediate changes to come from it was the integration of males into the previously all-female residence hall Shriner Hall.
Residence Life, professional staff and resident assistants, held meetings and tabled to help the transition move smoothly and answer the questions of concerned and affected students.
“We will approach it [co-ed rooming] the same way,” Troutman said.
Katie Malagari, current resident assistant and head resident assistant for next year, said, “I try my best to answer the questions of my residents, and if I can’t, I point them to someone who can,”
Co-ed rooming, if approved, would be an option for upper-class students who opt in to it. The option is a suitable option for transgender and non-binary students.
“I wouldn’t put someone in a room with the opposite sex unless they choose it,” Troutman said. “Students who don’t feel comfortable living with their biological sex now have that option.”
This update to Hood policy falls in line with the implementation of all-gender bathrooms in certain buildings.
The Student Government Association, House Forum and the Queer Student Union have all worked to gauge student opinion on co-educational rooming.
“Most students don’t really care. Most the concern comes with the outcome of couples living together,” Malagari said.
A poll conducted on the Blue and Grey Twitter account yielded results of 35% of voters saying “I wouldn’t do it but I don’t care,” 29% who were for it, 16% who were against it, and 20% who did not care.
Floors in each residence hall will still be designated for single gender housing. Other changes coming in the next year include possible renovations to Coblentz Hall including new carpet and paint. As of now, the renovation of the Meyran Hall elevator is halted.