<p>as parents I just wanted to get your opinion on this. My school recently approved gender neutral housing (for those that don't know it allows students to room with people of any gender). I'm not sure how good of an idea this is and frankly I don't think that many parents would approve of this. Ok well I just wanted to see what y'all thought. The link to the article is below.</p>
<p>I, personally, do not have a problem with it. It isn't a policy which is going to force anyone to live with someone of a different gender, as far as I know. It will be handled through requests only, and will not apply to freshmen. I know that gay and lesbian campus organizations have been working on this issue for a few years and hopefully it will help them in the difficulties that some of them face in dorm situations. I'll be anxious to hear how many straight kids actually make such a request. Somehow, I don't think there will be that many, and the ones who do, if they're couples, are obviously already sleeping with each other anyway. At least this way, there will be no sexiled roommates. But, as I said, I can't see a huge demand arising from this change in policy.</p>
<p>As a freshman, I don't think I would want my kid to room with someone of the opposite gender - but that doesn't mean I think the option shouldn't be available. Although the article says this isn't a sexual orientation issue, the driving force behind the policy is the LGBT community, whose student members sometimes find themselves in unfriendly territory. Universities are struggling to provide safe, harassment-free environments for LGBT students. It sounds shocking if you don't know the context. I don't think you're going to see a lot of couples electing to room together. Most kids are smart enough to realize that relationships may end, but housing contracts live on.</p>
<p>I've not seen a college yet where you would share a bedroom with someone from the opposite sex. But I have seen instances where there is a common living area and kitchen that is shared by 4 "pods"--the pods can be male or female. . .kind of "Three's Company".</p>
<p>Swarthmore has a limited number of rooms available for opposite-sex sharing. These are only available in the upperclass housing lottery, not for freshmen. Some are two-person doubles. Others are for larger groups, such as the Lodges where five students share two large rooms, a kitchen, and a bath.</p>
<p>This housing is strongly discouraged for couples who are romantically involved because of the serious problems it creates for the housing dean when they break up and "can't stand being in the same room" anymore. I read the policy as "strongly discouraged" being a polite way of saying the Dean of Housing won't allow it.</p>
<p>As a practical matter, these mixed gender options are often selected by a group of girls and a gay guy. I also don't think there is tremendous demand for mixed-sex rooms. The available number is fairly limited.</p>
<p>here everyone is pretty stoked about it. A lot of people are already signing up, especially couples and I think there are going to be major problems. I don't think it's bad if they allow transgender students, etc. to have this kind of housing but to open it up for everyone is going to be a huge mess in my opinion.</p>
<p>I'm curious how they'd be signing up already? Most colleges that I'm familiar with don't make their housing arrangements until the spring for the following year.</p>
<p>What happens when couples break up? They will be scrambling around looking for someone to switch rooms with - not an ideal situation.</p>
<p>at penn you can start to make plans for some houses, with a lot of demand, early. You can sign up for community living, which means if you want to live with your friends you start to submit your materials. They aren't due until mid january i think.</p>