All-Gender Dorms Kirtland, Williams Continue in 2018-19

After considering faculty deliberation and feedback collected by the PEA Gender Inclusion Task Force, the administration decided on Tuesday, Jan. 9th that the two all-gender residences, Kirtland and Williams Houses, piloted in the 2017-18 school year, will continue for another year.

The Gender Inclusion Task Force, formed by Vice Principal Karen Lassey, Dean of Residential Life Arthur Cosgrove and English Instructor Alex Myers, have been at the forefront of developing and implementing the all-gender dorms for two years. However, the all-gender dorms are only one facet of the group’s ongoing mission for greater gender inclusivity on campus.

“[The task force] continues to consider the ways in which our campus could improve the experience for students, faculty and staff of all genders,” Lassey said.

“[The task force] continues to consider the ways in which our campus could improve the experience for students, faculty and staff of all genders,” Lassey said.

According to Myers, the group wanted to keep the all-gender houses for another year in order to gather and analyze more residents’ responses to the all-gender dorms before formulating and enacting new initiatives.

“This year was sort of a pilot, which usually means we’ll run it and check in and see how it’s going, and if it’s going well, we’ll renew it,” Myers said. “It’s halfway through the year, but it’s only been four or five months that they’ve lived together. We’re going to do a second pilot year, just to get more time and more sense of how this feels over the whole school year.”

Before the residents moved in, the task force and all-gender dorm heads created a curriculum regarding respect and synergy among residents to ease cohabitation. Myers said the curriculum aimed to address “relationships, gender and sexuality” and expand to cover “broader social justice questions around the entire community.”

Resident dorm faculty in Williams House and Dance Instructor Amberlee Darling, felt the curriculum added to the students’ experiences. “Many conversations about gender identity happen organically,” she said. However, “having the curriculum allows for specific times and places for them to get on the same page, express themselves and learn.”

English Instructor Courtney Marshall says her position as Kirtland House dormitory head entails leading regular discussion with residents on gender identity and social justice.

“We walked over to see the queer kids exhibit as a dorm. Our education is going by having discussions with people. This weekend we met with a poet who was speaking at MLK day,” senior and member of Williams House Michael Garcia said. “Living in an all gender dorm is very expansive of your perceptions on gender and sexuality, and having these discussion supplants that.”

Senior and Williams House member Cam Speck has enjoyed his experience with the curriculum and does not feel as though it has occupied too much of his time. “We’ve gone to some lunches and stuff at night. That’s the most we’ve done though; it’s been relaxed.”

Experiences in the dorm have been mostly positive. Senior and Williams House member Ori Evans said, “If they were to take a happiness index we would probably be the happiest dorm on campus. [There is] an amazing vibe going on.”

Many of the students believe that gender differences were challenging to overcome, but the communal surmount of these obstacles has brought dorm mates closer to one another. “I feel like we have definitely been able to cultivate an inclusive community unlike any other on campus. Every dorm is inclusive but is different when you have to overcome the ‘barrier’ of gender,” Garcia said.

Faculty also hope that the all-gender dorms are a step forward into breaking the heteronormative mindset on campus. “I’m really proud that Exeter did this. I think it felt risky, so I’m so thrilled that everything that people were afraid of has not come to pass,” Myers said of the school’s choice. “I really hope that this is just the start. And that we don’t sit back and say that we’re done.” 

Reflecting on their own experiences and looking ahead to the future of all-gender dorms, current tenants encouraged other students to apply for residency next year. “It’s a great learning opportunity and you really learn empathy because you are talking with people who are different from you[...] I recommend it to everyone, no matter your gender identity,” said senior and Williams House proctor Maya Kim.

Garcia believes his residence in Williams House has rendered compassion for others, as well as self-discovery. “My perceptions on people and gender have expanded, and now I feel like I am more empathetic,” he said. “I think everyone should apply; this is an amazing experience.”