FIRST let me point out a few things about the intent of this column. I am responding to the decision of Tufts University to deny Carl Sciortino Jr. the right to live with someone of the opposite sex because he is gay.
So to begin let's look at the sometimes inherent problems with the current system. Sciortino has been lobbying Tufts administrators to open same-sex dorms to coeducational living. He argues that the current policy creates possibly "difficult living situations because of homophobia and harassment." No one can debate the fact that in some instances, this is the case.
For those of you out there who are not members of the lgbt (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, how many of you would feel comfortable living with a roommate who is not heterosexual? For those of you who say it won't be a problem, I applaud you, but the harsh reality is that I know that there are plenty who are squirming at the thought. Also for many of you it might be the first time you thought about it. When you moved in first year, the last thing you thought about was whether your roommate was gay. Maybe that means it doesn't matter, or maybe it points to the heterosexism that lgbt students are faced with daily.
Speaking from experience, as an openly gay student here, I know quite a few lgbt students, including myself, who had difficulties coming out to their straight same-sex roommates. My biggest battle was not that I didn't feel like my roommates would accept me, it was that I had always felt my room was a safe place for me, and being gay, living with a same-sex straight roommate, I was worried that this assumption would be challenged.
Back to the issue at hand. I would argue that the major motivation for changing policy is allowing the students the right to choose. These students, who are legal adults, should be allowed to choose the roommate that is right for them, regardless of sex or sexual orientation. These adults make responsible decisions on a daily basis. Why shouldn't one of them be whom they live with?
Tuft's policy currently prohibits discrimination against students based on sex and sexual orientation. In addition, there is nothing in their policies stating sex is a reason to restrict roommate choices. On a larger scale, other colleges and universities have also already adopted this policy. Wesleyan University, Antioch College and Hampshire College permit co-ed roommates in multiple occupancy rooms. These schools already have shown how co-ed living can, and does, work. They can provide a model for other schools to adopt similar policies. There are also schools that unofficially permit students to make co-ed roommate choices, but who have not changed formal policy.
There are obviously alternatives to living with a same-sex roommate. One could live with a same-sex gay roommate, live alone or live off-campus. I agree that these are alternatives, but shouldn't another alternative be to choose to live with someone of the opposite sex, because it makes you feel safe? To many, this alternative makes sense. At the very least, it makes no less sense to allow this as an alternative living situation.
There are plenty of arguments in opposition to mine. They come from all different people. The argument from the administration is that it will work with students to find an alternative. The argument from some in the queer community is that it perpetuates stereotypes, and does nothing to get to the real problem, which is the homophobia that exists. What these arguments fail to look at is the students' right to choose a place that is safe for them.
Now let's bring this article back home. Here we are students at the University of Virginia. Admittedly, we are not the most progressive school, and I think that if the same proposition were made here it would meet equal opposition from the powers-that-be. Unlike Tufts, however, we do not have a resource center for lgbt students. We don't have paid staff for lgbt concerns. We are way behind them in progressive policies for lgbt students. But unlike them, we haven't had any violent acts against lgbt students in my four years here. Though the issue of co-ed dorms may seem removed from us, it is actually much closer than we think. I would argue that for the University the first step is to start developing policies in other areas, such as resources for lgbt students and hiring staff to lobby for our concerns. We, the lgbt community, have many battles to be fought -- coed dorms are just the beginning.
(Karen M. Jones is president of the University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Union.)
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