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Last updated on Saturday, December 8, 2012
(BLOOMINGTON) - Parents sending their kids to Indiana University next year will find students have a new option for dorm living, but it might not be for everyone.
IDS reports, there will be an all-inclusive floor where anyone can share the same room, regardless of gender.
"We can have a mixture of people who identify as male, female, gender non-conforming, gender queer, transgender... Whatever gender you want to identify as," said IU Assistant Director of Diversity Education Barry Magee.
The liberal arts residence hall already houses students pursuing similar liberal arts degrees. The new arrangement is another step toward helping students who share something more personal.
Beginning next year, students can choose from 16 single rooms and two double rooms on the floor. They'll share a gender-neutral restroom as well as a private one.
Although many students approve of the new dorm arrangement, parents' reactions are yet to be seen.
Freshmen students probably won't have the opportunity to live on the floor since the rooms will likely already be taken by older students, and students won't be assigned to these rooms, unless they request them.
"It's the beginning of a move toward creating some spaces where people of different gender identities can choose to live with each other," Magee said.
Supporters of the new dorm rooms say they're no different than living off campus with a group of friends.
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