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Show WeekendDtotnions Page 8 Friday, Dec 7, 2007 Gender-neutral bathrooms serve all on campuses BySTACEYHOLLENBECK McClatchy-Tribune (MCT) When Robin Peckham first began attending Brown University, the bathrooms in his dormitory made him uncomfortable. But it wasn't the messy sinks or soap scum that made Peckham ill at ease; it was the signs on the door. Peckham, a 19-year-old sophomore, does not identify as male or female. So when he, who also goes by "she" and "it," had to decide whether to use a femaleonly or male-only bathroom, the choice was not easy. "When I used men's bathrooms, I felt awkward wearing skirts or sitting down to pee or shaving my legs. When I used women's bathrooms, I felt awkward shaving my face or wearing boxers." Peckham said in an email. "I also hated switching back and forth for different activities because I didn't want people to think 1 was some weirdo." he said. Some students, including Peckham, have experienced verbal and physical harassment while using gender-specific bathrooms because of their gender identity and expression, which do not involve sexual orientation. For students who feel uncomfortable or unsafe using traditional restrooms, universities across the country are implementing gender-neutral bathrooms, bathrooms that are not designated as male or female, in academic buildings and dormitories. On many campuses, these actions are met with praise. But some groups, mostly conservative, are condemning the trend. Most universities that changed bathrooms from gender-specific to gender-neutral did so by simply switching restroom signs, making the cost of converting the bathrooms minimal. This summer Brown University converted 12 restrooms, including single-use and multiuse bathrooms, to gender-neutral by switching signs. These changes are partly the result of advocacy from stu- dents in the university's Queer Alliance, a group that helps promote transgender and gay rights on campus. Along with various subgroups, the alliance has been insisting on having gender-neutral bathrooms for years. Despite changes, members hope to help implement more of the bathrooms at Brown. "i think we're seeing more transgender students and more students who don't identify in traditional gender-binary ways," says Margaret Klawunn, associate vice president for campus life at Brown. "We want our students to feel comfortable. (Gender-neutral bathrooms) are a good way to help meet those needs." Brown is not alone. Fiftyfour percent of the country's top 25 universities have gender-neutral bathrooms, says a study by the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) released this August. The goal of GenderPAC is to ensure that schools, workplaces and communities are suitable places for those who do not meet expectations for masculinity and femininity to succeed. According to the study, both private institutions, like Princeton and Harvard, and public schools, like the University of Virginia and University California. Berkeley provide gender-neutral restroom facilities. More than 140 campuses have made the change. In 2005, officials at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania decided all buildings on campus should have at least one gender-neutral bathroom, preferably single-occupancy. By converting signs on handicapped bathrooms, they achieved their goal. "Here at Swarthmore we're very much concerned about social justice and social equality. Every member of our community is valuable and should be respected," said Sharmaine LaMar, the college's equal opportunity officer. "Any institution that has similar values would want to recognize all members of its community." At Brown, members of RUQUS, a subgroup of the Queer Alliance, demonstrated against gender-specific bathrooms last year by designating entrances to an on-campus dining hall as male or female. Dressed in drag, students directed those entering the dining hall through the "appropriate" entrance and verbally harassed those who went through the "wrong" door. According to Peckham, who participated in the protest, the demonstration, along with editorials in the university's student newspaper, generated conversation on campus and drew the attention of university administrators. Prior to implementing gender-neutral restrooms at Brown, officials surveyed students this past spring and determined most were comfortable with the change. A more recent survey this semester showed 46 percent of Brown's student body was in favor of gender-neutral bathrooms, Klawuun said. "We're balancing multiple needs. Our (Queer Alliance) students were saying we want more gender-neutral restrooms. But we wanted to make sure other students felt comfortable with these changes as well," Klawunn said. The growing trend has received applause from those advocating for transgender rights and criticism from some evangelical groups. David Kotter, executive director of the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a group that helps the church deal biblically with gender issues, says the council is concerned with the growing number of college campuses implementing genderneutral restrooms. "We were concerned because we have a biblical understanding that God created human beings in his image, male and female," Kotter said. "It is something that we are created with, not something we get to choose or we get to discover." The position of the council is that men and women are created equal in the eyes of God. but have different, complimentary roles. For men, this means loving Santa: He loves making children smile <-j U continuedfrom page 6 "The kids are so surprised when 1 say, 'Oh, here's Johnny,' and their name really is Johnny," Hogue said. "I often will even have parents come up and tell me their child's name beforehand just so I get it right and the child will get even more excited." Parents also help Hogue play Santa Claus sometimes by giving him a present to give to the children, he said. "Some parents will hand me presents to give to their child of something the kid has asked for," Hogue said. "Especially at the family parties, the parents will give me presents beforehand for me to stick into my bag." Children's expressions and excitement is what has kept Hogue going for all these years. "To watch the kids' expressions and see their faces is what this is all about," Hogue said. "It is this time of year and to see the kids having a good time and getting excited is probably my favorite part. When the kids see Santa, they all clamor and run around and get excited, and you can hear that excitement in their voices. -court n ic. packer@aggiemaiL usu.edu Jhe Viamond hallertj Jine Jewelry One Dav Dec. 10th <*. Holiday Celebration * 40% off £rts • Entertainment • Outdoors • Culture headship of a family. For women, it's joyful and intelligent submission. "I think that gender-neutral bathrooms and gender-neutral dorm rooms that appear on college campuses can actually be more confusing for young men who should be learning what a good man should be like and women who should be learning what a good woman should be like," Kotter said. "We're not picketing gender-neutral bathrooms. We're educating people. So that men and women in their hearts know there is a distinction in roles," he said. Katie Lamb, a 19-year-old sophomore at Brown and advocacy chair of the Queer Alliance, says the goal of the alliance is not to convert all bathrooms to gender-neutral, but rather every third or fourth bathroom. "Everyone's lifestyle should be taken into consideration," Lamb said. "I think that if it's an easy change to be made, (one) that makes people more comfortable, than it should be done." In addition to implementing gender-neutral restrooms, colleges looking to make students who don't identify as male or female more comfortable are also changing official forms by adding an additional category to the options of male and female. Some universities, including Brown, also allow students of any gender to live together in certain on-campus housing buildings. "1 want more people to feel safe and comfortable," Peckham said. "I want there to be more options for everyone. Mostly I don't want anyone's existence to be elided." eimes r Steppin' Out This Weekend Friday, Dec. 7 •Absurd Person Singular, Utah State Theatre Production, Caine Lyric Theater, Friday and Saturday 7:30-9:30 p.m., free for students •USU & Institute Combined Choirs, Kent Concert Hall, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., free for students •Annual Military Ball for Veterans, USU LDS Institute, 7:3010:30 p.m. •Santa's Elves: A North Pole Musical, Eccles Conference Center, Friday and Saturday, dinner at 6 p.m.. show at 7:30 p.m., $13.95-$28.95 •Babes in Toyland, Heritage Theatre, Brigliam City, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., www.heritagetheatrcutah.com •Unicorn Children's Theatre presents: A Christmas Cavalcade, Christmas scenes and vignettes, Friday and Saturday, call 435792-3325 for more info Saturday, Dec. 8 •Valley Carolers, Music Theatre West, Logan Tabernacle, 7 p.m., Free •Stokes Nature Center Holiday Celebration, 1-3 p.m., $3.50$6, www.logannature.org/contact •Winter Wonderland on Ice, Eccles Ice Center, 6-7:45 p.m., "Skate with the Stars" public skate session, 8-9:15 p.m. •Austin Weyand Concert, Crumb Brothers Bakery, 7:30 p.m., $10 •Lace N Levis Square Dancing, Cache Senior Center, 240 N. 100 East 7-10 p.m., $5 Want something posted on VENUES? Send to statesman@cc.usu.edu Information compiled by: Kate Rouse Justin: Guitarist comes to Crumb brothers IM continued from page 7 ^ ;; style guitarist and composer Billy McLaughlin. From there, Justin addedmore layers to his playing using partial capos to create an even wider range of" textures and voicings in nis compositions and live performances. Inspired by the singer-songwriters he saw perform in his college home ofDuluth, MN, Justin began honing his craft as a writer, marrying his accomplished guitar playing with his already strong vocals. By his senior year, he had recorded his first album "Up Until Now." Not really intending to pursue a performing career, Justin was majoring in music business and planned on seeking a music industry job. But following raduation. he was encouraged y hisfriendChris Cunningham (of acoustic/pop duo Storyhill) to drive out to Colorado to attend the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Song School. Keeping company with other musicians, swapping songs around late-night campfires, and hearing stories from other tourings artists, Justin realized that being a touring musician was what he really wanted to do. An epic moment in his young life, it would later inspire the title track of his 2003 release f r , ./ Shine. ' *' In 1998, Chris Cunningham invited Justintojoin him on a crosscountry tour.. While they were on the road, they would often play on each others songs, working out harmonies and twopart guitar arrangements. One night when they were playing at a church, Justin saw a djembe drum left by the church band. During the soundcheck, Justin began drumming, backing up Chris. They both enjoyed the sound so much, Justin played percussion that night and every night thereafter. Justin has been playing the djembe ever since and has gone on to back up such musicians as Ellis Paul, LJ Booth and Tom PrasadaRao. In 2000, Justin recorded a live duo album with Chris Cunningham called "2 Forms of ID." That same year he released his second solo album "in between" and contributed four original compositions to the solo guitar compilation "Ufescapes - Solo Guitar", produced by Billy McLaughlin. Sold exclusively in Target stores, the album went on to sell 70,000 copies nationwide. Since then Justin has gone on to wow audiences across the country, performing at such renowned venues as the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, The Ark in Ann Arbor and Saint Pauls historic Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillors A Prairie Home Companion. He has ., toured with Red House record-'"' ing artist John Gorka and has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in the acoustic music scene, including Shawn Colvin, Martin Sexton, Lucy Kaplansky, David Wilcox and Richard Shindell. A dynamic live performer, Justin has won fans over with his intricate guitar solos, heartfelt songs and spontaneous delivery, often composing songs during his shows with the audience's help. His growing popularity has led to performances at some of the top festivals including Kerrville Folk Festival (TX), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY) and the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest (CO). Gaining recognition as a songwriter as well as performer, Justin has won numerous songwriting awards. He has twice been a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival and has won the Indie Acoustic Project's award for Best Song of 2005 for his song "Shine," the title cut to his most recent release. For more information, go to www.justinroth.com or www. b r i d g e r f o l k . o r g . '•'•••' Going home for Christmas Free Men's Titanium band with Engagament ring purchase Don't let the broken car elf steal your Christmas cash! 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