Oswego State will join other SUNY schools in introducing gender-inclusive housing. 

SUNY schools such as The College at Brockport have experimented with gender-inclusive housing for a few years. The move to promote such form of housing means that male and female students will be able to room together. 

While Residence Life and Housing staff was hoping to get this new project available for  spring semester 2020 transfer students, it will be open to all students for this upcoming fall 2020 semester. 

Gender-inclusive housing has been available in The Village townhouses ever since they were inaugurated in 2010, per Residence Life and Housing’s website. 

While mixed-gender residents in The Village only share restrooms, the move to incorporate this into all of the various housing options on campus would mean that, for the first time, a male student would be allowed to share rooms with a female student, and vice versa.

Residence Life and Housing staff believes this initiative could give  students the opportunity to expand their horizons prior to graduation.

One challenge associated with this initiative may be if for any reason a roommate of the opposite gender changes room or residence hall. 

Other challenges they face include housing students that are classified as transgender. This is a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ student Alejandro Estrada, who said it is a good learning experience.

“It’s good that it’s becoming more open and that we’re allowed to live with people of our choice, and it gives us more freedom to be comfortable around people,” he said. “I know in Hart the third floor is all female and I think that’s such a good idea because some people aren’t comfortable living around other men, and I think that that’s something that should be further pushed for various reasons.” 

Estrada believes that having a more diverse environment that would make people feel comfortable and would be a step forward toward gender inclusiveness. 

However, some students may find themselves uncomfortable living with someone of the opposite gender due to reasons that may include those pertaining to religion, for instance.

“There is one condition under which students of the opposite gender are not permitted to cohabitate in the dorms. That is, if the students are in a romantic relationship,” Residence Life and Housing staff member, Mary Craw, said.

The university’s website further states that if a student who requests gender-inclusive housing is not paired with another resident with similar profiles, Residence Life and Housing will assign that student a different one who has requested residing with someone of the opposite gender.

Students will only be able to live with someone of the opposite gender if they specifically file such request when applying for on-campus housing.

Gender-inclusive housing will be available to all students – transfers, first-year, undergraduate and graduate at Oswego State.

The new feature will be made available in rooms, suites and townhouses on campus. 

Looking at the future, Residence Life and Housing staff hopes this could help students understand that they are there to accommodate student needs.

Photo by William Rogers | The Oswegonian