“My interest as chair of TTF is to make sure that any future policies prioritize the needs of gender-nonconforming students,” she says, adding that the current case-by-case basis system is successful in fulfilling most needs.

THE PROCESS

According to administrators, students who put in a request for gender-neutral housing must consult with the OSL and their House about their needs.

Associate Dean of Student Life Joshua G. McIntosh says there was some debate about placing students with gender-based needs in Houses that could better accommodate their needs architecturally, but that the OSL ruled to maintain the current housing lottery system.

“We wanted to continue the randomization process that allows the diverse communities we see in the Houses,” says McIntosh.

He adds that the OSL is working with the Houses to keep these students in the lottery without isolating them in singles far from their friends.

“We’re committed to trying to bring people from different backgrounds together while being as inclusive as we can of transgender students and others,” he says.

Rosenberg agrees that this is the best way to approach providing gender-neutral housing without making students feel segregated.

“Because the Houses differ so greatly, it’s almost impossible to imagine a blanket policy,” she says. “But it’s important to have a general policy to let students know their needs will be met and also an individual policy to put into practice.”

THE LIMITS

Though differences between House structure make a universal solution unrealistic, the Report on Harvard House Renewal—which includes guidelines for the physical renovation of the Houses aimed to enhance residential life—includes recommendations that “examine housing policies related to the availability of gender-neutral housing.”

In order to make such living arrangements an architectural possibility, the Report suggests eliminating walkthroughs and fitting locks on all bathroom doors and private bedrooms within suites, as the College policy requires that bedroom occupants be of the same gender even in mixed-gender suites.

According to McIntosh, housing students of different genders in separate bedrooms with personal bathrooms within the same suite is difficult in certain Houses.

“We can’t put locks on many of our bedroom doors because many times locking a door prevents access to either a bathroom or a mode of egress,” he says.

He adds that the OSL determined which suites in which Houses could fit these architectural requirements for gender-neutral housing.