n As a former Boston University student now enjoying a fair guest policy at another institution (I transferred after my first year), I am glad to see that BU’s procedures are under review. The BU guest policy is infamous; people at this school have referred to it as ridiculous, puritanical and, most significantly, heterosexist.
I have heard BU students call the policy ridiculous and puritanical, but never has the heterosexist argument been brought to the table. BU’s current policy restricting opposite-sex guest privileges was written with solely the male-female sexual relationship in mind. Consequently, it perpetuates differential treatment based upon gender. Furthermore, the policy stigmatizes those who do not identify with heterosexual or majority modes of gender and sexuality, such as people who identify as transgender, homosexual or bisexual.
I applaud the Student Union for taking steps to add technology and guest equity the Guest Policy. The proposed computer database would certainly streamline the application process. But no matter how advanced the technology is, a policy that employs gender discrimination to determine where a person can and cannot sleep will never be fair or equitable.
Ebony Nicolas
Barnard College ’05