Gender neutral housing option at GVSU

ALLENDALE, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Valley State University has added a new option to the 2012 housing application being given to students.

Now students are able to choose a transgender option, not just male or female, when applying for student housing.

"What that means is you won't necessarily be assigned based on the gender you biologically are," explained Student Senate President Natalie Cleary. "It can also be what you consider yourself as."

There will be a box at the bottom of the application that will ask the applicant if he or she requires gender neutral housing in addition to the applicants gender choice.

Cleary told 24 Hour News 8 that any suite style room on campus in one of the residence halls has the potential to be gender neutral.

There are dozens of universities nationwide that already offer similar options for students.

When it comes to the new option for GVSU students Caleb Joseph Hartmann said, "I was shocked. Pleased and shocked."

Hartmann was born a female but now identifies himself as male. He began his transition a little over one year ago and has already applied for the 2012 general neutral housing option at GVSU.

An organization called Campus Pride ranks about 300 universities on whether or not they are gay friendly. Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Michigan and GVSU all earned 4.5 stars out of 5.