Unity Across

available to any student who wants to take

advantage of them.

Cal Poly and

the Country

Gender-Inclusive Housing
Starting this school year, Cal Poly is
offering gender-inclusive housing for
freshmen in select dorms within Yosemite

Acceptance is a trend that is evident

across the country. Is it universal amongst
the whole population? No. But every
movement towards full support of a minority
group is progress. And thats exactly how
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo views it. From the
start, the university has encouraged students
to embrace each others differences and
build unity for a strong, safe campus.
However, Cal Poly is aware that these things
take time and a large amount of effort. As a
result, for the first time this year, Cal Poly
has taken action and introduced genderinclusive housing, gender neutral bathrooms,
and identification pronouns that are

Hall and Cerro Vista. The school has,

however, offered these supportive housing
situations for continuing students in Poly
Canyon Village in the past, but they have
expanded their efforts to first year students
as a result of the positive outcome from the
upperclassmen. By reaching out to incoming
students as well, the university hopes to
encourage them to build on the welcoming
environment that the campus has always
strived to establish.
According to University Housing,
the qualifications to be placed in the genderinclusive housing are two simple
requirements: be a member or supporter of
the LGBTQ community. The concluding

living arrangements include roommates who

opinion. After hearing from students with a

are comfortable with each other regardless

variety of backgrounds and identities, one

of their gender expression and identity. If a

theme is constant amongst the majority of

student meets these standards they can apply

the residents: comfort.

for the gender-inclusive housing through

their housing application by simply
expressing that they have interest in the
option. Based on Mustang News Article,
Cal Poly expands gender-inclusive housing
to all students, 241 people enrolled in the
offered living arrangements while there are

I initially thought I
would feel out of place in
this dorm, however it
turned out to be quite the
opposite; It feels like family
here. Says Emma Kumagawa, a
Yosemite Tower 6 resident.

The only physical difference

between the gender-inclusive dorms and the
around 6,300 other students placed in

general, neighboring ones is the bathrooms.

general housing.

With the same layout, the residents in these

With the Fall 2016 Quarter coming

specified housing situations are permitted to

to a close, students in the gender-inclusive

use any restroom on either side of the hall,

dorms have experienced the new

regardless of gender.

arrangements enough to form a reliable

Gender Neutral Bathrooms

someones preferred pronouns based off

appearance, however people need to take

The dorms arent the only places a

into consideration that these words are now
student can find a gender neutral bathroom
a flexible identification decision made by
on Cal Polys campus. There are currently
each individual themselves.
16 all-gender restrooms available to
It is not an insult to be referred to
everyone. By providing this option at
with gender neutral pronouns. It is an insult
accessible locations for anyone who wants
to misgender someone, says Guide
to take advantage of the facility, students
contributor, Erica Hudson.
and faculty have a constant reminder that we
are working towards giving the LGBTQ
community the rights that they deserve.
This is a big step in the right

Programs
Cal Poly is known for their unique

direction for Cal Poly. Says Jane Lehr, the

approach to student life through the phrase,

Womens and Gender Studies Department

Learn By Doing. Inside and outside of the

Chair.

classroom, Mustangs are encouraged to take

advantage of the number of opportunities

Identification Pronouns

and organizations the school gives the

students the resources to create and be a part

According to the Cal Poly

of. More specifically, the programs that give
Disorientation Guide, the freedom to have
people the freedom to express their identity
gender expression is a right that every
and support others are abundant on campus.
citizen should be eligible to practice. For
For instance, the Pride Center and the Queer
example, one way to identify yourself is
Student Union both focus on representing
through pronouns. It is easy to assume

the LGBTQ community, providing social

What makes Cal Polys programs

and academic needs for the members, and

successful is the speed in which the

raising awareness of the cause Cal Poly is

university is working at to create a unified

trying to push: acceptance.

community in relation to the nations track

These gender related actions go

to establish a country of acceptance and

hand-in-hand with Cal Polys lasting

support. America has seen many impactful

motives to create universal inclusion

milestones when it comes to the equality of

amongst every individual and minority

the LGBTQ community. For example, the

group present on campus. According to Cal

legalization of same sex marriage in all 50

Polys Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan,

states. However, according to the Movement

Cal Poly is devoted to celebrating our

Advancement Project, a program working

diversity, and increasing their programs and

towards full equality for LGBT citizens,

initiatives in order to create a noticeably safe

there is a lot more progress to be done in

and successful environment for any student

order to reach their goal of a unified nation

of any race, religion, sexual orientation, age,

and economic status. For the future, the
administration of Cal Poly is supporting
about 22 underway or proposed progressive
plans of action to move towards a school of
complete inclusion.

for all.
Only 14 states have a high overall

Compared to America

policy tally, meaning that within those states

there are a high number of positive laws that

aid to the movement towards support of the

for our country as well as a symbol for

LGBTQ community. The majority of

schools like Cal Poly to move forward with

America, however, 26 states to be exact,

their plans to support the cause. Cal Poly has

have a low overall policy tally. So maybe

always welcomed every aspect of their

America is on track, but isnt moving at a

students, however, its simply impossible to

fast pace.

speak for the whole student body.

In order to give each individual a

Work to be Done
Its hard to say when exactly full and
total equality for the LGBTQ community
will be a reality. Looking back at our
countrys history, the acceptance of minority
groups takes time; and as much as Cal Poly
and America has done, there is always room
for improvement. According to ESMEs
Article, Five Essential Rights LGBT
Parents Still Dont Have, some of the
crucial things that America is dodging when
it comes to the full equality of the LGBTQ
community is the lack of protection against
employment discrimination and in public
accommodations. These are just a few
examples of the work that needs to be done

voice, the university has opened doors for

each Mustang to grow in a safe, comfortable
environment with all the resources they need
to get there as well as introduce each student
to a new way of thinking. Cal Poly is aware
of the difficulty of obtaining a positive
reaction from everyone, but is facing the
challenge head on by introducing actions
such as gender-inclusive housing, gender
neutral bathrooms, and the support of
identification pronouns. According to the
Simply Psychology Article, Moscovici and
Minority Influence, the most important and
effective element in encouraging the
equality of a minority group is staying

consistent on their cause and determined to

see change happen.