A New Twist For Picking Roommates
DEAN OF RESIDENTIAL Life Martin Redman has confirmed that gender-neutral housing will be available in dorms fall term. The option allows students to room with any other student, regardless of gender. DAM's Mirelle Phillips '07 asked students what they think about the proposal.
"It's not something I'd be interested in, but I'd be fine with it."
Julia DeWahl '09
Greenwich, Connecticut
"On such a socially advanced campus I think that genderneutral housing is the next natural step for Dartmouth. It is something I highly support."
Sally Cooper '10
Austin, Texas
"Unequivocally, it should bedone."
Gretchen Reynolds '07
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
"Why not? Lots of people live in mixed-gender housing off-campus. I don't know how I feel about couples living together, though."
Garden City, New York
"Its probably a good idea. I think there should be onlyone dorm students can elect to be in if they want genderneutral housing. I think it's always important for students to have the option."
Aviva Lillian '10
Paris, France
"My best friend is female and she basically lives with me already so I definitely support this."
Matthew Ritger '10
Freeport Maine
"I think it's fine. It's already done off campus and upperclassmen should have the
option. I imagine the biggestopposition to it is parents."
Charlie Guthrie '07
Darien Connecticut
"I wouldn't mind. Brothers and sisters share rooms, so why shouldn't friends or couples do the same? I know of many cases in which the boyfriend has pretty much already moved in with his girlfriend, so what difference would gender-neutral housing make?"
Karola Jering '10
Tuzing Germany
"I hope there will be soundproof walls."
Emily LiU '08
Englewood Colorado
"I think it's a great idea. Students should be able to makethe decision of whom they want to live with regardless of sex. There would be no danger of sexual assault if the roommates know each other and are friends, so it should be open exclusively to upperclassman."
Lilian Wang '10
San Jose, California
"I think this policy will enhance the College's Inclusiveness."
Alex Cook '09
Chattanooga, Tennessee
DID YOU KNOW?
Approval Voting is the method used in the election of College trustees (not to mention the secretary general of the United Nations). To learn more about the system, see "A Superior Voting System," an October 2005 column by professor emeritus Robert Norman (www.thedartmouth.com). For a more in-depth look, try Approval Voting, a 1983 book (Birkhauser) by Steven Brains and Peter Fishburn.
