In fall of 2011, officials at Rutgers University in New Jersey plan to have three gender neutral dormitories that will house 20 to 30 students.  

The idea supporting the decision comes from an incident last year when Rutgers first-year Tyler Clementi committed suicide after his roommate streamed a sexual encounter he had with another man online.

“In the aftermath of Clementi’s suicide, conversations with LBGTQ students led the school to take into consideration how tough it is to find an accepting roommate,” said the school’s Residence Life director, Joan Carbone, in an article in Good Education.

The dorms will house 100 students and will be determined by a housing lottery and will be open to students who will be given the option to request a roommate who is supportive of their sexual preference.

Those selected through the lottery can pick a roommate of their choice, regardless of gender. In addition, heterosexual students will be able to live with friends of the opposite sex. Bathrooms will be gender blind.

Ohio University, Emory University and Columbia will also be introducing co-ed dorms in the fall as well.

“Gender neutrality is a must in the upcoming years. One should be able to identify as male or female or not have the option of remaining neutral,” said second-year Carleton history student Alena Peters.

Rutgers isn’t the first university to have gender neutral housing. According to CNN, about 55 others schools have implemented it.

In a statement by the university from CNN, they say, “this has been under discussion for a long time. In the aftermath of the Clementi tragedy, members of the university's LGBTQ community told the administration that gender-neutral housing would help create an even more inclusive environment. Since then, the university has been exploring this in greater detail."

Paige Lougheed, a third-year mass communications student, said gender neutral dorms should remain an option.

“If you are okay with it, agree pods can be mixed, but bedrooms should remain male/and female, for safety reasons and comfortableness.”