New gender neutral bathrooms designated in Columbine Hall

With the support of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the GBLT Resource Center and campus community, gender neutral bathrooms have come to Columbine. The installation means UCCS will join its sister school CU-Boulder, where unisex/single user restrooms are all over campus.

The eight Columbine bathrooms which have made the switch to gender neutral were preexisting, so no major construction was needed, according to Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center (PPGLCC) Ryan Acker, who has formed a partnership with UCCS's GBLT Resource Center.

The switch involved little or no construction or renovation, so the only visible change can be seen on the placards next to the bathrooms, which instead of being labeled "women's" or "men's" are labeled "restroom." Plans for the change began in the later part of 2008 and was completed within a six-month period, said Acker.

The purpose of gender neutral bathrooms is to create a safe environment for students, Acker said. "Gendered restrooms can cause uncomfortable situations, safety concerns and harassment. UCCS has transgendered students, and it is important we are aware of their needs." Jarod Gray, a student government house member helping with the change, told The Scribe he hopes the bathrooms' installation will "promote the end of discrimination to transgender, androgynous, and intersex peoples."

Gray echoed Acker's sentiment. "My main hope is to eliminate some of the harassment or assault people may get from having to choose a bathroom. I also want these people to feel free and comfortable in their own skin."

Most of the restrooms are located in the hallways leading to offices. Student Caitlin Thorton said she may never use them due to location. "If I did have to use them, it might be a hassle to try and find them, especially if I had never had to visit an office in Columbine before."

In response to some hesitations regarding the safety of allowing anyone to enter the bathrooms, Gray said, "most gender neutral bathrooms are single stalled so it would look specious if any more than one person entered a gender neutral bathroom together. Let me remind everyone that we're all adults, let's do the adult thing."