I’m obviously aware of the risks that’re involved with this possible rooming situation. But, I was wondering if they actually do exist in colleges? I would imagine that there are colleges out there that actually have this rooming situation.
Now, I think that they should exist with an agreement between the roommate(s). Also, there should be only 1 rule: Any inappropriate behavior that involves any form of sexual misconduct or video taping your roommate(s) without his or her’s consent will result in an automatic suspension from ALL colleges. In other words, you will never be able to apply to any colleges again during your lifetime.
At my school, co-ed room pairings do exist, at least for upperclassmen. For freshmen, I don’t think so, unless a student transitions sometimes after room assignment. I think it would be a bad idea to include co-ed pairings in random room assignment.
I have a friend who is a male and lived with a woman last year. They had no issues, as far as I know, but it might help that he’s not interested in women.
IMO, they should exist at every school but people should be able to pick the sex/gender of the person they want to live with. I wouldn’t have cared a lick if I was with a male. (I’m female)
I have lived with males unofficially since my sophomore year of college and officially since junior. In my apartment there were two males- my bf and another random guy that we didn’t really know (long story).
Those rules should (and do) exist regardless of your roommate situation.
Yes, they absolutely exist. Within the ivies I believe Penn was first and Brown was 2nd. They also exist at other schools.
Sexual misconduct or videotaping your roommate without their consent is generally a student conduct violation at every school regardless of the genders of the roommates…
I think it would be awkward to share a bedroom with a stranger of the opposite sex. There’s two types of dorm rooms. There’s the old school rooms where you would be sleeping in the same bedroom, and there’s modern, apartment style living where everyone gets their own bedroom or shares a bedroom with someone of the same sex, and shares a communal living room/kitchen and bathroom. What type of co-ed room were you thinking about?
My school is on that list (Yale), and I think it’s a great thing because it gives everyone more flexibility in choosing roommates/suitemates. If you aren’t comfortable living with someone of the opposite gender, you don’t have to, since upperclassmen choose their own roommates and all freshmen are assigned to same sex suites.
My university has co-ed dorms, but generally rooms are same-sex. They recently introduced gender-flexible housing (where you can live with people regardless of gender), but this is only available to upperclassmen and you must apply to have this option. Freshmen that are not cisgender (don’t identify as their sex assigned at birth) may request a single or work with the school to be placed with the gender they identify as.
For me, it wouldn’t bother me at all if I roomed with a girl. In fact, I’d actually enjoy the company of someone other than a guy. But, the girl might not be comfortable with this situation at all. Even then, I would say something like this to her: “You don’t have anything to worry about while we’re in room together because I would NEVER do anything to a girl.” “I also will look away or leave the room when you get dressed or get ready for a shower.” Maybe that would make her feel more comfortable, but would that be the right things to say to her if I was ever in a situation like that? I couldn’t imagine being random roommates who are the opposite sex of each other to be that comfortable around each other.
It’s an option at many schools. I’ve never heard of anyone being assigned to a co-ed room randomly (meaning, without expressing your interest in co-ed housing.)
As an aside, I’ve had a male housemate who seemed to think that because of my gender, I would be happy to clean up after him, so I wasn’t super-thrilled about the situation … but YMMV.
If someone said that to me unprompted, I’d be suspicious.
You’d treat a female roommate just like a male roommate. Look away when they’re getting dressed or whatever. I don’t really think that’s something that needs to be discussed.
IMO, I see no problems if I told her or not. I was just trying to make her feel comfortable. Instead, I should actually thank you for telling me because if I didn’t know that, then who knows what her reaction might’ve been.
Update: Now that I think of it, saying nothing and just being myself would be the best thing to do. Geez, makes me wonder why I posted that in the first place.
It’s a moot point unless this situation is actually currently happening to you, isn’t it? No need to plan out reactions to unlikely situations in advance. Cross bridges when you come to them.
I am aware that situations likely vary for every individual. But in general is it couples that choose to use co-ed dorming? Or is it common for non-couples to do so as well?