University of Oklahoma mixed-gender housing program is a success, officials say

University officials are working on a proposal that would expand the program in the coming years.

The four-bedroom suites in the wing house two male freshmen and two female freshmen, with a central common area being shared among the four students.

In each suite, the two male students share one bathroom while the two female students share a second bathroom.

Diane Brittingham, OU's director of residence life, said the project has been successful so far, with no major incidents. The students involved in the pilot project have generally held each other accountable for their behavior.

In some regards, Brittingham said, the freshmen who moved into the mixed-gender floor seemed to be more comfortable with the move-in process. Although the students were randomly assigned to rooms, she said, they were more familiar with the situation since they'd volunteered to be a part of the project.

“We've had good response from the students,” she said.

The project came after members of two student organizations — Students for a Democratic Society, and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends — approached university officials asking for a gender-neutral housing policy that would allow a specialized housing option for gay and transgender students.