Marist Offers Gender Inclusive Housing Starting Fall 2021

For the first time in Marist’s history, the college will be offering gender-inclusive housing for students starting in the fall 2021 semester. The gender-inclusive housing will be available across campus, with every grade having a designated residential area. The application for gender-inclusive housing for interested students is due on April 19. 

“Anyone is allowed to and welcomed to apply for gender-inclusive housing,” Resident Director Kimberly Marsden said. “We really want students that apply to this housing to be individuals who feel as though they would benefit from this different housing experience and that it would best support their success here at Marist.” 

Liam Gillin ‘20, the former president of Fox Pride, helped spearhead the idea of gender-neutral housing at Marist. Wanting to make housing more inclusive, Gillin began meeting with housing last March about the new initiative, but was cut short in his efforts due to COVID-19. Then, even after graduating, Gillin worked with other students to advocate for gender-inclusive housing. 

“I made a petition for gender-neutral housing in July that got over 300 signatures,” Gillin said. “I think gender-neutral housing will have a very positive impact at Marist as people will feel more comfortable going into Marist and having open-minded individuals living with them.” 

In order for students to be placed in gender-inclusive housing, they have to apply for special interest housing. The application states that "choosing to be a member of the gender-inclusive housing community comes with the responsibility of actively welcoming people of all sexes, gender identities and gender expressions.” The application also makes it clear that this option was not designed or recommended for students who want to live with significant others. 

“The purpose of the application is to have a better understanding of the impact it will have on the student's experience,” Marsden said. “As this is the first year we will be starting this initiative, we have no idea how many students are actually interested and will want to be a part of this housing. The application will help us to better gauge this interest from students.”  

Resident Assistant Kayla Maguire ‘22 has been conducting research on the experiences of LGBTQ+ students in college housing with Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Emma Fredric. Maguire and Dr. Fredrick are currently working on a study that specifically assesses LGBTQ+ student experiences in Marist Housing. 

“I have conducted a literature review on how transgender students are benefitted by gender-inclusive housing, which I define as a residential community that is not segregated by sex assigned at birth; rather, it allows students to live together regardless of legal sex and/or gender identity,” Maguire said. “Usually, gender-inclusive housing areas have the intent of accommodating LGBTQ+ students and people must apply to get in, but at some colleges, every student can live with whomever they would like and the entire college has gender-neutral housing.”

 According to research published in 2012 in the Journal of College Student Development, LGBTQ+ students at institutions with more inclusive policies report better academic outcomes, higher confidence levels and greater leadership skills than peers at less inclusive institutions. 

“If marginalization is not addressed and policies aren’t implemented to support LGBTQ+ people, they are more at risk for minority stress and the harmful effects that come along with it,” Maguire said. “College campuses should implement more LGBTQ+ inclusive policies in order to address disparities present between LGBTQ+, cisgender and heterosexual students.”

Housing and Residential Life was working on creating gender-inclusive housing last year before COVID-19. Once the pandemic hit, Housing had to change its direction and focus on creating a safe living environment for students. 

“Every year we have students reach out to us asking if they can live in a house with their friends of the opposite gender because they would be more comfortable there,” Marsden said. “Now that we have a better grasp on the pandemic, we wanted to make sure to pick up where we left off a year ago and create more opportunities for our students to succeed at Marist.” 

The Housing Staff already has a fair number of applications for gender-inclusive housing. Students who have specific questions about the housing are encouraged to reach out to the Housing Office via email at housing@marist.edu. All special interest housing applications are available on MyMarist on the Housing & Residential Life page.  

“We try to do everything we can to create a housing environment for students that is supportive, inclusive and welcoming to all of our students,” Marsden said. “We know that by starting gender-inclusive housing, this is another step in helping to meet that goal.” 

For the first time in Marist’s history, the college will be offering gender-inclusive housing for students starting in the fall 2021 semester. The application for gender-inclusive housing for interested students is due on April 19. Source: Greta Stuckey ‘23