THE INDEPENDENT

The Latest

More gender neutral bathrooms on campus

More gender neutral bathrooms on campus

Story by Alexa Chance, Graphic by Allie Hutto

Author: Bodine, James/Thursday, November 14, 2013/Categories: Campus

Rate this article:
No rating

Luke Knudsen and Charles Eagan proposed more gender neutral restrooms on campus to the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College Senate on Wed., Oct. 23.



“My friend, Luke Knudsen, and I have been talking for a long time about the need for gender neutral bathrooms on campus because using the restroom when you don't pass clearly as male or female can be a pretty scary thing,” Eagan said. “You get funny looks, awkward questions, sometimes yelling or peeking under the stalls of the bathroom, and it can even escalate to threats or violence.”



“Both Luke and I have been talking with many people for some time now about such a need for FLC, and Theresa O'Hare was one correspondent we both thought could assist us,” Eagan said. “She's been on board for quite some time now, and has been suggesting we go to Senate for a while.”



There are currently 15 gender neutral bathrooms on campus. They are located in Berndt, Kroeger, Pine, Reed Library, the Student Life Center, and the Student Union Building. Residence halls are not included and these are public restrooms.



Eagan continued to say that the addition of more gender neutral bathrooms will be beneficial on campus because it will be help students who don't feel comfortable using a binary labeled restroom.



“The lack of bathrooms is inconvenient, because you would have to go all the way back to the Union, and then walk back to your class,” said TJ Trump, student and ASFLC senator. “The ASFLC plans to continue talking about this issue within the next two weeks.”



Mark Mastalski, director of the Leadership Center, also co-advises ASFLC. Mastalski helps to oversee issues regarding student government.



“Last week two students came to student government as guest participants, as anyone can do, and they spoke on behalf of the gender neutral bathrooms,” he said. “It was presented as an idea, as something to convey to student government that they would like to see be expanded on campus.”



Mastalski also said that student government hosted an event called Ideas for Innovation. Students came to this event and gave ideas regarding enhancement of student life on campus.  One of the topics that was brought up was gender neutral bathrooms, so this idea of adding restrooms will more than likely be brought up again.



This is not a new idea, Mastalski said.



“It might be hitting more of the public right now, but it’s been talked about for at least a year,” he said. “It’s just now becoming more knowledgeable to the public.”







 
Print

Number of views (5795)/Comments (0)

Please login or register to post comments.

All News

Tom Stritikus' Town Hall Meeting

By: Charlotte Williams Indy Staff Writer

Fort Lewis College President Tom Stritikus presented a campus evaluation at the first Town Hall meeting Oct. 3.

Fort Lewis College President Tom Stritikus presented a campus evaluation at the first Town Hall meeting Oct. 3.  The public forum sought to inform the community about the state of the college.  Lauren Savage, FLC media relations coordinator, described the event as a “data dive,” looking into the statistics of various topics such as enrollment and budget...

Students discuss diversity with President Stritikus at Student Senate meeting

By: Ethan Hale Indy Staff Writer

The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College were met with over an hour of public participation by students addressing diversity on campus at their regular meeting Oct. 2. 

ASFLC performed a preliminary vote on the creation of a diversity council. This hypothetical vote was unanimous and the real vote will occur Wednesday. 

 

 

The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College were met with over an hour of public participation by students addressing diversity on campus at their regular meeting Oct. 2. FLC President Tom Stritikus was present at the meeting to address multiple topics including the expected creation of a Diversity Collaborative designed to share a variety of student perspectives with school...

WellPac contributions to Healthy Campus Week

By: Barbara Edwards Indy Staff Writer

Healthy Campus Week is an annual national event put on at universities around the country by Partnership for a Healthier America, including Fort Lewis College where students and faculty joined together to start the academic year on a healthy note. 

Healthy Campus Week is an annual national event put on at universities around the country by Partnership for a Healthier America, including Fort Lewis College where students and faculty joined together to start the academic year on a healthy note.  PHA partnered with FLC  recreational services, campus dining and the Wellness Peer Advisory Council to provide students with focused...

A Conservative Voice on Campus, Will Witt Visits FLC

By: Charlotte Williams Indy Staff Writer

A conservative speaker by the name of Will Witt visited Fort Lewis College on Sept. 19 in Noble 130 with the intention to discuss free speech and other topics on college campuses. 

A conservative speaker by the name of Will Witt visited Fort Lewis College on Sept. 19 in Noble 130 with the intention to discuss free speech and other topics on college campuses.  At his speech, Witt received an audience who listened while he discussed a wide variety of issues concerning climate change, abortion, religion, standing up for one’s beliefs, and free speech, with a...

Global Climate Strike Brought to Durango

By: Taylor Hutchison Indy Staff Writer

Fort Lewis College and high school students joined the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20, at Durango City Hall.

Fort Lewis College and high school students joined the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20, at Durango City Hall. Indivisible Durango’s climate and environmental committee asked FLC student JoJo Johnstone to host and promote the event. Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old from Stockholm, Sweden brought on FridaysForFuture, a campaign that asks students and community members to participate...

First2526272830323334Last