A new Living/ Learning Community (LLC) will be available beginning next fall which will allow students to reside in the same room regardless of gender identity, sex or sexual orientation. The new inclusive environment is an effort to increase levels of comfort and inclusion at Hofstra.

“It’s very important to allow trans and gender non-conforming students to live in a space where they will feel safe and comfortable, especially for first-year students as they move to a new environment,” said Danny Stafford, a senior theater production major. “I would have loved to have had the option for gender-neutral housing. It would have made the coming out process a lot easier than it was my first year,”

Novia Ramsay, the director of operations for the Office of Residence Life, said, “This option was a recommendation from Hofstra’s LGBTQ+ task force. In addition, this issue came up during monthly meetings that the Office of Residence Life and Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion have with students from this community.”

The 14th floor of Constitution Hall will house this new living community, with 14 spots available for interested students. Additional spaces will also be available on the sixth floor of Nassau Hall. “Our office does get inquiries from incoming first year students interested in gender inclusive housing options, so a limited number of spaces will be set aside for freshmen students as well,” Ramsay said.

Thayne Watson, a sophomore drama performance major, believes that this new housing option benefits the Hofstra community. “We do need gender-neutral options on campus, because that is something I struggle with only being able to afford a triple. I can’t afford the security of a single that maybe other non-gender binary people could afford,” Watson said.

However, Watson believes that the school could still do more. “I don’t think it was the best way that it could have been executed,” Watson said. “I’m thankful for the steps but I don’t think that it is enough yet.”

Adelphi University in Garden City offers a similar option for gender-neutral housing, but it is only open to students in their second year or above. According to Adelphi’s housing policy, “first-year students may apply for an exception and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

Prior to the formation of this new housing option, Hofstra worked with students on a case by case basis to meet accommodations, which was an expensive and timely process. If a student wanted to live in a single for optimal comfort, the student would have to pay higher housing costs. Ramsay explained that having space for this new LLC in different buildings will help provide different prices and room configuration options. Students interested in gender-neutral housing can choose to live in a quad, double or single.

“The housing will have a gender inclusive bathroom and sharps containers for any student undergoing hormone therapy. The resident assistants will either identify with the LGBTQ+ community or have a strong ally-ship with this community,” Ramsay said.

Chermele Christy, the associate director of Residence Life, feels that the addition of this housing option will help make Hofstra a more inclusive environment. “Our mission is to show our commitment to and support of this community in all aspects of student life. We hope that in addition to satisfying a practical need among our student body, this new option sends a strong message that Hofstra is a welcoming place for all students,” Christy said.

Interested students can request this option during themed-living room selection on Friday, March 9. This living option is available to students on a first-come, first-serve basis through the room selection process.

Christy emphasized the important impact that this community can have on Hofstra. “We want all students to feel comfortable in their living environment regardless of gender identity or expression. Our goal is to create a residential community that is vibrant with the potential for great growth in the future beyond a few floors on our campus.”