Open dorms to co-ed life
Kevin Huie
assistant director of MSPS
Did you know that no two students who claim to be Asian/Pacific-Islander, African-American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American on their admissions application respectively are going to be roommates with one another as a freshman? As a matter of fact, minority students are intentionally placed throughout the residence halls so that each hall is as diverse as it can be, relative to the percentage of minority students on our campus. Apparently, many Notre Dame administrators feel it is important to diversify our residence halls so that students can share with one another the unique differences that they have. Sound like a good idea?
Did you know that Notre Dame administrators have pondered the question of whether or not to have designated "dry" residence halls or floors for students who wish to avoid the alcohol-dominated social parties that occasionally occur during the week and frequently occur during the weekend? Apparently, however, one of the reasons "dry" halls or floors have never been established is because administrators feel it is important that those non-drinkers who are responsible are among the drinkers who might not be. Babysitters and designated drivers are a good thing, don't you think?
Did you know that it was in the early 1990s that Notre Dame started making a concerted effort to make their residence halls handicap accessible? A student named Alex Montoya, who was born with only one limb, was accepted to Notre Dame, but didn't have an accessible home. A ramp and a couple automatic doors later, St. Ed's became a place that someone like Alex could live with his classmates — and his classmates could learn about him. Enter the 1990 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, exit inclusion at Notre Dame. Do you have someone like Alex living in your hall now?
Did you know that Sorin is going to be co-ed?
Okay, I lied. That isn't true. That would never happen at Notre Dame. Breaking tradition is one thing, but not having parietals is another. Having men and women living together is completely different than having people of different races living with one another, right? At least with people of other races living together, the University is making a concerted effort to improve race relations on campus. If men and women were living together, what would the University get out of it? Improved gender relations? Of course, there is not really any problem with gender relations at Notre Dame, is there? Men and women on campus get along fine, right? They have plenty of opportunities to interact, get to know one another, and bond with one another, right? They know how to act around one another and how to treat one another, don't they?
In classes, men and women interact together all the time. You never see all the men sitting on one side of the room, and all the women on the other side. And even if that does happen, you always have the dining halls. Men and women are always eating together in the dining hall, aren't they? Well, they at least say hi to one another, don't they? Okay, well they are at least talking about one another, or staring at one another, right?
So men and women might not establish relationships in the classroom or the dining halls. But social gatherings are always taking place in the residence halls with both men and women. And of course there are always the SYR dances. I am not sure how meaningful the male-female interactions are at those particular events, but at least some interaction is taking place — very often as both parties are in a drunken stupor. Come to think about it, I am not sure that SYRs reveal such a good example of the gender relations on campus. As a matter of fact, they may just expose how terrible gender relations seem to be.
Men and women certainly do have to learn from one another, and as we all know, treated equally. Since the University finds it to their advantage to be inclusive in the residence halls with respect to people of color, non-drinkers and physically challenged individuals, I think it is time that the residence halls be inclusive with respect to gender. Maybe if we had co-ed halls, men and women would have more substantial and significant relationships. Maybe then they would be more inclined to interact with one another in the classroom. Maybe then it would be a little easier for some to find a date. Maybe then people would actually go out on dates. Maybe then there would not be such disparity in residence hall regulations. Maybe then women would be treated with more respect. Maybe then it would be easier for you to meet the person you keep talking about in the dining hall.
Do you think if I double-dared Father Malloy he might consider the whole Sorin idea?
"What's Your Shade" is contributed by Multicultural Student Programs and Services and runs every other Wednesday. This column was written by Kevin Huie, assistant director of MSPS.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, November 8, 2000
