Maybe Try Co-Ed On-Campus Housing?
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Opinion
By Hunter Ellis
Community Submission
Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) needs to change their policies towards on-campus apartment living. This is the 21st century, and yet as a university we have not changed much when it comes to coed living. We still have all-female dorms and segregated living on campus. With a student body 18-years-old and up and by law we are all considered adults, and yet we are still being dictated where we are allowed to live and whom we are allowed to live with. The Landings, Village, and Lancer Park are all apartment complexes that have individual rooms and have multiple bathrooms. Yet for some odd reason though we cannot mix the sexes in these living quarters. It would be deeply beneficial for those who one day plan on living with someone of the opposite sex to experience the ins and outs of co-ed living.
I have heard many objections to this proposal. The first objection I have heard is that the school would see an increase in pregnancy rates. Well to this objection I would first like to bring out the fact that not all students, believe it or not, are sexually active. Secondly, the RAs are given condoms to give out as needed by their residents so it is well known that there is sexual activity going on on-campus already, not to mention most women are on some kind of birth control as is. As Virginians we have had Family Life courses shoved down our throats for years, give students a chance to actually implement their responsibility, this school might actually be surprised how responsible its student body is if given a chance. Another point I hear constantly is that members of the same gender cannot stand living together, have you ever heard of women fighting over bathroom time, it isn't pretty believe me! Lastly it is extremely na've of the school to assume that all co-ed living would be with heterosexuals, some homosexual students find it a lot easier to live with the opposite sex, and sometimes it makes life easier and less hostile.
Community Submission
Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) needs to change their policies towards on-campus apartment living. This is the 21st century, and yet as a university we have not changed much when it comes to coed living. We still have all-female dorms and segregated living on campus. With a student body 18-years-old and up and by law we are all considered adults, and yet we are still being dictated where we are allowed to live and whom we are allowed to live with. The Landings, Village, and Lancer Park are all apartment complexes that have individual rooms and have multiple bathrooms. Yet for some odd reason though we cannot mix the sexes in these living quarters. It would be deeply beneficial for those who one day plan on living with someone of the opposite sex to experience the ins and outs of co-ed living.
I have heard many objections to this proposal. The first objection I have heard is that the school would see an increase in pregnancy rates. Well to this objection I would first like to bring out the fact that not all students, believe it or not, are sexually active. Secondly, the RAs are given condoms to give out as needed by their residents so it is well known that there is sexual activity going on on-campus already, not to mention most women are on some kind of birth control as is. As Virginians we have had Family Life courses shoved down our throats for years, give students a chance to actually implement their responsibility, this school might actually be surprised how responsible its student body is if given a chance. Another point I hear constantly is that members of the same gender cannot stand living together, have you ever heard of women fighting over bathroom time, it isn't pretty believe me! Lastly it is extremely na've of the school to assume that all co-ed living would be with heterosexuals, some homosexual students find it a lot easier to live with the opposite sex, and sometimes it makes life easier and less hostile.
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