NJ University Adds All Gender Restrooms To Campus
By Matt Rivers
GLASSBORO, N.J., (CBS) -- Inside its just a bathroom. Stall, urinal, soap, sink, paper towels. But it's the sign on the outside that's a bit different.
"We pushed for this, we had petitions going around on campus trying to garner support for gender neural bathrooms," said junior Kailee Whiting.
Gender neutral bathrooms, restrooms that anyone can use no matter who you are. There are two so far on the campus of Rowan University, this one inside the athletics building. It's the result of months of conversation between students and their university. Jenna Siegel and Kailee Whiting are a part of Prism, an LGBT advocacy group at the school.
"It's such a simple part of life but having a space to go to the bathroom is really, really important," said senior Jenna Siegel.
"It's a small step forward but it is a step forward for Rowan to do inclusion," said Whiting.
Others on campus don't really see it that way, arguing it singles out transgender people even more.
"You're going in the stall or doing whatever so it's not like people see you anyway. It's just more of a reason to say that person is different," said junior Brandon Spewak.
Others think its a good idea, but wonder why there's such discussion around the issue.
"This was the first time I heard about it, so I obviously don't care enough about it to look into it," said sophomore Brian Nunez.
But the school argues that it is a big deal. Yes, its just a bathroom. But the inclusion it promotes is symbolic.
"The issue is human dignity. Do all people at a state institution feel comfortable to be all that they can be," said Dean of Students Richard Jones.
In the future, LGBT advocates hope to help create a fully gender neutral housing policy. But for now, they'll start with a few bathrooms.
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