Last month, Technician News released an article discussing the laws present against gender-inclusive housing and its effect of creating concern within the transgender and non-binary communities at NC State. As NC State prides itself on its diversity and inclusivity, I was shocked to hear about this blatant discrimination and disregard for these communities.
Upon further investigation, I found that it was actually a University of North Carolina System policy that affects all sixteen four-year universities within North Carolina. UNC System Policy 700.8.1, effective since summer 2013, mandates that universities cannot house members of the opposite sex in the same campus-owned residential unit. This creates unsafe and unaccomodating situations for students who are part of the transgender and non-binary communities.
Hence, there is an incredible need for policies and regulations that take into consideration diverse identities that students within North Carolina can have, in order to create safer, more welcoming spaces for all students.
Nowhere in the UNC System mission statement does it mention the need to create inclusive environments for students of diverse communities and backgrounds. Understanding that the main purpose is enhancing the higher education program, I went over into the campus safety subpage to see if there was anything regarding the emotional and social safety of students in marginalized communities; yet I found nothing.
I continued to scour the UNC System’s website to try and find anything about diversity within the school system when I stumbled upon the strategic plan. One of the overall goals of the plan is to “strengthen our institutions” and has one of the five steps/sections dedicated to access, trying to make “academic, financial, cultural, and other knowledge-based services to help all students.” However, the section only focuses on racial equality in regards to access of resources.
Although extremely important, diversity is not just about race. There are many other facets that combine to define diversity, including gender identity, which is completely ignored in this plan. Why does the UNC System preach that diversity is crucial in education when they blatantly ignore the needs of inclusivity for marginalized groups such as the trans and non-binary communities?
According to the strategic plan, one official said, “The diversity of our students needs to be at the forefront of the discussion.” Sadly, this statement is not fulfilled by the system’s mission, campus safety resources and strategic plan, as not all aspects of diversity are addressed to improve inclusivity for all students on campus. Yet housing is only one example of the institutionalized transphobia that affects many students across the region and directly contradicts this “claim” for the focus being on student diversity.
The students of the UNC System need to continue to argue and advocate for increased emphasis on creating an equal and open space for trans and non-binary students affected by these policies. It is both appalling and disgusting to see the organization that rules over all sixteen North Carolina universities act so ignorant to the needs of various communities within the school system.
If students have questions or concerns about their housing options and needs, they can reach out to the GLBT Center and University Housing for assistance. Students can share concern on this issue by reaching out to Student Government.
