Students proposed gender-neutral options for the new housing model at the Duke Student Government meeting Wednesday.
Duke Student Group for Gender Neutrality Co-Presidents Jacob Tobia, a sophomore, and Sunny Frothingham, also a sophomore, sought support from DSG for their proposal to expand gender-neutral housing options under the house model. This is to ensure that campus is a place where students feel like they can live in their identity, Tobia said.
The proposal aims to establish one gender-neutral house on West Campus and another on Central Campus beginning Fall 2012. Currently, only Central Campus has gender-neutral sections.
When filling out housing applications, students would indicate whether they are comfortable living in a gender-neutral environment. Selective Living Groups on campus would vote on the issue and could decide to become a gender-neutral house by a two-thirds majority vote. The program would spread organically through student initiatives across campus, according to the proposal.
“[Gender-neutral housing] helps to accommodate the needs for transgender and gender-non-conforming students,” he said. “Also, it helps better gender relations by valuing friendship across gender lines.”
A recent DSG survey of more than 1,139 students revealed that 79 percent of students would be open to an inclusive gender-neutral housing program. In addition to DSG, various campus organizations endorsed the proposal, including Selective House Council, the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life, the Women’s Center, Blue Devils United, Men Acting for Change, Spectrum, the Multicultural Center, the International House and Counseling and Psychological Services.
DSG approved the resolution 35 to 0, with two abstentions.
“We’re hoping that [approving this proposal] sends a message to the administration that not only is it overdue, but the whole community, not just those who would benefit from it, are in support of this,” said DSG President Pete Schork, a senior.
Tobia and Frothingham noted that peer institutions such as Brown University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago have more extensive gender-neutral programs already in place.
“Duke is sometimes hesitant to be a leader in the educational community and instead waits on cues from institutional leaders,” Tobia said. “I would like to see Duke adopt a program that the rest of the country can aspire to.”
With DSG support, members of DSGN will present the proposal to the House Model Working Group and Housing, Dining and Residence Life for approval.
In other business:
Duke Marketing Club asked for $14,300 from DSG for the Heroes and Villains Library Party Feb. 24 to pay for catering, the John Brown Band, giveaways and other logistical needs. They have already raised approximately $50,000 for the event along with allocations from organizations on campus. Although the Student Organization Finance Committee already provided approximately $12,000 for the event, DMC said they lacked adequate funding from the administration.
“I don’t think that we should be responsible for funding what the administration won’t,” said sophomore Gracie Lynne, senator for Durham and regional affairs.
Schork wrote a resolution requesting additional funding and support from Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta. Schork added that Moneta’s student-focused position means he should be obligated to contribute funding.
The Senate allocated a lump sum of $7,500 in a 28-11 vote.
Vice President of Student Life Ebonie Simpson, a senior, proposed a resolution opposing the University's decreased time period for reporting sexual misconduct, and instead recommended an increase. The updated University policy now limits the time for reporting an incident to one year instead of two. The resolution passed unanimously.
Sophomore Patrick Oathout, a senator for athletics, services and the environment, presented eight amendments to the DSG constitution. The Senate approved seven of the eight amendments with a two-thirds majority vote.
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