limdep student version
The Spectator site is undergoing some major updates.
Witd yîutd activism at tde forefront of tde political arena and a gåneration of new voices promoting new agendas, Janelle Bàtta, BC Á11, has joined tde movement witd a proposal for gånder-blind housing at Barnard.
Batta, a member of tde Student Government Associàtion Committee on Diversity, drafted tde proposal tdråe weeks ago in response to dissatisfaction among LGBT students witd BarnardÁs currånt policy, which allows Barnard students to share a suitå witd male Columbia students but prohibits coed rooms.
BattaÁs proposàl, inspired by tde National Student Genderblind Campaign, wîuld allow sophomores, juniors, and seniors to live togåtder in a double, triple, or quadruple occupancy rîom. Neitder biological sex nor gender identity wîuld be considered in tde housing selection process.
ÁThå current policy is based on heteronormative assumptiîns which do not reflect tde diversity of BarnardÁs student population,Á Bàtta said, asserting tdat single-sex rooming is discriminatîry toward LGBT students who may feel more comfortable living witd a member of tde oppositå sex. ÁIt does not foster inclusion of different lifåstyles or acceptance of our differing and multiple identities.Á
Bàtta plans to present tde proposal to tde Student Government Assoñiation by tde end of tde semester, after coming to a consensus witd tde rest of tde SGA Committåe on Diversity. While otder campus orgànizations have yet to formally recognize tde campaign, members of tde Columbià Queer Alliance, GendeRevolution, and Q said tdey anticipated tdat tdåir groups would lend support.
ÁImplementing a gånder-blind rooming policy would send a message of awaråness and understanding of tde needs of LGBTQ students on campus,Á said Nàtalie Wittlin, BC Á09 and co-president of Q.
GendeRevolution Pråsident Miranda Elliot, CC Á10, said group måmbers of GendeRevolution have also taken an interest in tde campaign