PEA Enacts New Gender Dorm Policy

Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, students will be able to reside in a dorm that corresponds to their gender identity rather than biological sex, according to an email sent to all students by Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane on April 23. 

Though incoming students have already been assigned to dorms corresponding to their biological gender identity as indicated on admissions applications, the deans hoped to spread knowledge of the new opportunity. “We are clearly/explicitly inviting applications to move to or affiliate with the type of dorm that best aligns with your gender identity,” the email noted.

Many students were open to the idea and hopeful of the changes it would bring. “I think it’s definitely a good thing that they’re making it official,” upper Emma Cerrato said. “I hope that it will make everyone on this campus feel more safe and valued and understood.”

Cerrato noted that this latest policy contributes to a larger conversation about gender inclusivity on campus. “When I was a prep, I don’t think there was much awareness about gender identity,” she recalled. Cerrato thought the shift began on Academy Life Day in 2017, when Exeter had school-wide discussions about inclusivity instead of the usual dorm-bonding activities. Following her prep year, there have been “more conversations about [gender identity] as a campus about being inclusive and open to the identities of other people,” she said.

Meanwhile, lower Sam Chalmers, who identifies as non-binary, notes that much still needs to be done. “There are definitely improvements to be made … I’ve given [the administration] suggestions and they’ve definitely been open to them,” they said.

As of now, not all students feel comfortable with the new policy change. Lower Hassane Fiteni expressed his belief that dorms should be “a space where people can be comfortable and vulnerable in their own space.” He is unsure if having dormmates of different biological sex would change this.

Lower Renee Bertrand acknowledged another set of concerns among students and faculty members that pertain to potential intra-dorn relationships. “The only thing that people could be concerned about is if that person liked girls and lived in a girls’ dorm,” she said, while nothing that “there are already people who are bi and gay and live in the dorm.” Bertrand concluded, “I personally don’t have a problem with it as long as they’re a decent person.”

Other students call attention to the lack of discussions surrounding this new policy; in fact, not all are informed about it, despite Cahalane’s email.  “I haven’t heard anything [about the dorm assignment policy],” lower Sarah Huang said.

Similarly, lower Mary Timmons believes that discussion surrounding the policy is sparse. “I just learned about it,” Timmons said. “I really just have not heard much about it until a couple of days ago.”

Prep Aletheia Zou concluded that all students should feel welcomed at Exeter, a community that strives to promote a supportive environment for all. “I think inclusivity is crucial to Exeter,” she said. “There are a lot of diverse people here and everyone should learn that they have a place in this world.”