Following the pattern of more than 50 universities nationwide, the Residence Halls Association passed a resolution to recommend the implementation of gender-neutral housing at MU in 2012.

Already in place at Stanford University, Rutgers University and Colorado College, to name a few, gender-neutral housing provides housing for those who feel more comfortable living with someone of a different gender.

In most cases around the country, gender-neutral housing is a voluntary option only, generally limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors in apartment-style housing. Generally, schools that provide gender-neutral options for freshmen randomize the roommate selection process but allow upperclassmen to select their roommates.

At MU, discussions regarding the addition of a gender-neutral housing option have taken place, and the passing of this resolution is a concrete step toward future implementation in residence halls.

We’re glad that RHA is recognizing the need for safe, inclusive housing for students whose gender identity doesn’t conveniently fit in previously determined gender binaries. For LGBTQ students, the option to live with someone of a different gender guarantees privacy and avoids concerns of safety and conflict that are the very cause of such programs across the country.

At Rutgers, for example, gender-neutral housing was implemented after the suicide of Tyler Clementi, the victim of harassment from his roommate for his LGBTQ identity. Clementi later committed suicide after his roommate disseminated a video of Clementi and his partner having sex in their residence hall.

Along with RHA, we strongly recommend the implementation of gender-neutral housing to Residential Life.

We do recognize the concern of both students and parents who see gender-neutral housing as a system through which students, for romantic or sexual reasons, can take advantage of the freedom provided. For this reason, we recommend a policy similar to those at other universities, detailing that only upperclassmen can choose their roommate specifically. For freshman, we find it best that the gender-neutral option be randomized.

In response to this concern, too, it is worthwhile to mention that universities have reported a general trend among heterosexual students to room with friends rather than people of romantic or sexual interest. At Brown University, the gender-neutral housing policy directly discourages students of any sexual orientation from living with each other in residence halls for romantic or sexual reasons.

In addition to those, universities with gender-neutral housing policies on average see 1 percent and 3 percent of students who end up choosing gender-neutral options, rates lower than initial expectations.

It’s also important to note that students who do not request gender-neutral housing would not be randomly placed with a roommate of opposite gender or in any gender-neutral accommodations.

For us, in response to concerns raised against such housing programs, the potential for students taking advantage of the program does not outweigh the benefit it provides for students of any gender.

If we are to create diversity initiatives to establish a campus environment of safety, inclusion and openness, we must as well provide housing options that guarantee comfort and privacy for our students. We must do what is within our power to foster communities centered on principles of diversity and respect for individual differences. Implementing gender-neutral housing is feasible and has proven successful elsewhere, and it is our hope that Residential Life follows suit in approving such a program for MU.