Boys and Girls Together at Clark

Sensible or Scandalous?
By Alex Kantarelis

The New Year brings a new age to Clark University, and just in time for Valentine’s Day. Starting this semester, Clark will allow gender-neutral housing. This means, quite simply, that students of different genders can finally room together. This decision sparks a new era not only for Clark, but also for all colleges in the Worcester area.

The change began in January 2006, when two opposite sex students approached Clark’s Residential Life and Housing office about the possibility of living together. They were told that this was against policy. After meeting with Dean of Students Denise Darrigrand, the students were given the chance to approach the school with a proposal as to why they thought gender-neutral housing would benefit the school. “They came back and had an amazing 70 page proposal, making very good arguments,” Darrigrand said. “I took it to trustees and they gave it their stamp of approval.” Just like that, the rules were changed, and gender-neutral housing was in full effect.

At first glance, it’s simple to say that the new rules will lead to problems. For example, boyfriends and girlfriends moving in together, getting into fights, and moving out within a month could lead to some problems. And of course, sharing a bathroom can be tough. But Clark students see past these potential problems with logistics. Clark sophomore Brie Goldberg from Cambridge spoke of the benefits: “I think that it’s a safety issue. If you’re transgender, transsexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian, then it is very important to have that option for safety as well as for comfort.” More importantly, it is only an option; students will not be randomly assigned an opposite sex roommate, nor will they have that option for their freshman year. It is only for upper class students who make the choice on their own.

Darrigrand was all for the decision from the beginning. “The research was there, the logic was there, the rationale was there, and there really wasn’t any controversy over it at all,” she said. And the students agree. “People have this conception that it’s going to be boys and girls living together and all these crazy things happening, but I don’t think anything is going to change on campus. People are going to feel more comfortable because their living situation will be more suited for what they are looking for,” said Clarkie Hannah Caruso from Northampton, MA. I guess sharing bathrooms suddenly doesn’t seem so bad after all.

Clark is not the first school to welcome gender-neutral housing. Swarthmore College, Wesleyan University, and Sarah Lawrence College, just to name a few, have all initiated gender-neutral housing, and to great success. For several years, opposite sex students have been able to share suites. This was just the next logical step. “We’ve already had that experience with men and women living together in the same suite and the same apartment. It’s not a new thing, for us it just opens an opportunity for students to live together,” Darrigrand said

Addressing the concern that perhaps roommates of the opposite sex are more likely to fight, sophomore Jeff Desmarais of Billerica, MA pointed out, “There’s always confrontation in the dorm room regardless, it just might be a little different, but I don’t think it will lead to an epidemic,” he said. Adam Coggeshall, from Brookline added, “You’re going to have roommate conflicts no matter who you’re with. If you have conflicts, you change your roommates; it’s as simple as that.” The school understands that conflicts arise in between roommates. It’s part of life. “Our students are smart and thoughtful, and if they make a bad decision, which we all do from time to time, we’ll help them through,” Darrigrand said.

Clark University has started something new and can now be seen as a role model to other schools. The students have voiced their opinion and the school listened. “Alumni have been calling left and right saying, ‘Good for you, we’re glad you’re doing this, and we’re proud of Clark,’” Darrigrand said. So to all the Clark Students planning to take full advantage of the college’s new housing rules, remember, everyone’s got your back.

Michelle Gregoire, North Brookfield, sophomore at Assumption
“I don’t think it’s a very good idea, because when they get out of the shower they’re going to have to change in front of each other.”

Jessie Nixon, Worcester, freshman at Assumption
“I think it’s totally fine if that’s what you want to do. College students are adults and their old enough to make their own decisions. It’s not that much different from co-ed floors, what difference is it if you share a room.”

Brian Gardner, Mendon, junior at Worcester State
“I think it’s a bad idea for a few reasons. One, the girl could bring guys over which could create a conflict with her male roommate if they don’t get along, and vice versa, which by the way is very different from a guy roommate bringing over a girl that doesn’t get along with the roommate. Two, based on a comment made by the dean, I think it promotes the idea that homosexuals cannot coexist with straight people. And finally, in my experience, couples living together in college leads to nothing good. That being said, their will always be problems involving roommates; I don’t vote against it, but I do think that it will create more problems than already exist. Though sleeping with your roommate would be cool.”

Mike Lombardi, Worcester, senior at Holy Cross
“I don’t have a problem with it, just because people of the opposite sex found ways to live together anyway. As long as it works for them, it’s okay with me.”