University of Oklahoma students protest housing policy

The students held signs and chanted “safe housing for all” and “gender neutral this fall.”

The students presented a petition to OU President David Boren that asks for a gender-neutral housing policy that would allow a specialized housing option for gay and transgender students.

Members of the Students for a Democratic Society and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends organizations gathered at noon to speak about their proposal for a gender-neutral housing unit.

Boren appeared before the group briefly, accepted the petition and said he would study the issue.

“I take this very seriously,” he said. He declined to make a housing policy decision on the spot.

OU's current housing policy requires freshmen to live in on-campus housing and provides housing options for upperclassmen.