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 (5830)/Comments (0)

Please login or register to post comments.

All News

Fort Lewis Soccer Weekend Recap

By Matthew T. Roy

The Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s soccer teams each had two home matches this weekend.

 

The FLC women lost both of their matches, Friday against the Regis University Rangers and Sunday against the Metro State University Roadrunners, 1-0.

 

On the other hand, the men defeated the Westminster College Griffins 2-1, and tied the #10 Colorado Mesa University Mavericks 1-1 despite going into double overtime.

 

The Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s soccer teams each had two home matches this weekend.   The FLC women lost both of their matches, Friday against the Regis University Rangers and Sunday against the Metro State University Roadrunners, 1-0.   On the other hand, the men defeated the Westminster College Griffins 2-1, and tied the #10 Colorado Mesa...

Faculty Senate Discusses Institutional Name Change

By Ryan Simonovich

The Fort Lewis College Faculty Senate discussed a potential name change to the college, course catalog changes and a senate handbook ammendment at their twice-monthly meeting.

The Fort Lewis College Faculty Senate discussed a potential name change to the college at their twice-monthly meeting on Thursday.   Mark Jastorff, FLC vice president for advancement, gave an update on what the name change committee has been doing. The school is working with Chelsey Baker-Hauck Brand Strategy to help with the potential change, he said.     At first,...

FLC and University of Denver offer Five Year Combined Master of Social Work Degree Program

By Ryan Simonovich

Fort Lewis College and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work are currently recruiting for a combined undergraduate and graduate degree program. The program allows FLC students to complete their bachelor’s degree as well as a Master of Social Work degree in five years.

 

Fort Lewis College and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work are currently recruiting for a combined undergraduate and graduate degree program. The program allows FLC students to complete their bachelor’s degree as well as a Master of Social Work degree in five years.   Students are regular undergraduate students at FLC for the first three years of the...

ASFLC Report: Name Change, Native American Tuition Waiver, SLC Update

by Aidan Multhauf

The ASFLC discusses changing the name of Fort Lewis College, the Native American Tuition Waiver and more.

The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College met on Wednesday to discuss communication tactics.   The FLC Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mark Jastorff spoke to ASFLC and introduced the topic of a name change for Fort Lewis College.   Having university instead of college in our name would put FLC in higher standing in the marketplace, Jastorff...

FLC Student Wins Free Style Kayak National Championship

By Ryan Simonovich

Paul Palmer, a junior at Fort Lewis College, won the freestyle kayaking national championships last weekend in Georgia.

 

Paul Palmer, a junior at Fort Lewis College, won the freestyle kayaking national championships last weekend in Georgia.   After multiple rounds, Palmer won the championship by a margin of only seven points, he said.   Palmer lost his paddle on his second run of the final round, Pamela Palmer, Paul’s mother said.   Paddles are specific to the individual...

First6566676870727374Last