UPDATE: LGBTQ 'friendly rooms' question will not be implemented by Residence Life
Editor's note: This story was updated at 12:32 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Despite an announcement made Monday during Central Michigan University's Student Government Association meeting, the addition of a questionnaire response about LGTBQ student living preferences will not be implemented by Residence Life, according to a statement released by Shaun Holtgreive, executive director of Residence Life.
"The incoming student residence hall questionnaire is not being changed," reads Holtgreive's statement, which was released Tuesday morning. "The Student Government Association had asked the Office of Residence Life to add a question about an applicant's comfort with sharing a living space with a student who identifies as or is lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, intersex, asexual or queer.
"We had assured the SGA representative that we would review the request as it pertains to next fall's residence hall questionnaire. However, we did not say it was approved."
Holtgreive added that the university has some specific concerns about the ramifications of the proposal – issues that would prevent them from approving the measure altogether.
"We will be scheduling a meeting with SGA to review this decision," he said. "We regret any misunderstanding that led SGA members to erroneously announce that the question would be added. It will not."
The legislation regarding LGBTQ student housing passed last year was used as the impetus to try and have it implemented for the 2015-16 academic year.
The legislation will allow students to choose whether they are comfortable living with someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexed, asexual, pansexual or someone whom supports those who are LGBTQIAP.
“They’re aiming for it to be implemented in the incoming student questionnaire for next year," said Rebecca Detroyer, chairperson for the SGA Diversity Committee.
SGA requested t hat a question be added to the residence life roommate selection questionnaire for students who live on campus next fall. It reads, “At Central Michigan University we strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive campus. With this in mind, would you consider yourself comfortable sharing a living space with an individual who identifies as or is, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, or queer?”
The question is designed in a way that doesn’t force individuals to disclose their sexuality to the Office of Residence Life. Detroyer helped formulate the question that would go on residence hall roommate selection questionnaires.
The idea for this legislation originated from campus groups Spectrum and Transcend, Detroyer said. One goal is for rooms to have people who all answered yes to this question or all answered no to the question residing together.
Shayna Haynes Heard, the College of Business Administration SGA representative, was the RHA representative to SGA last year and introduced this legislation to the house along with cosponsor Precious-Angel Jennings.
Haynes says this legislation is about helping people to feel safe where they’re living.
“At Central one of our core beliefs is an inclusive community and an inclusive environment," Haynes said. “So having this inclusiveness in residence halls is essential."
David Burney, president of the Residence Hall Assembly (RHA), helped to get Detroyer in contact with RHA. He said CMU is a leader with legislation like this.
“Not a whole lot of colleges are doing this,” Burney said. “It’s great to see CMU leading an effort like this.
