Co-ed living popular among students
By JULIE THATCHER Kansan Staff Writer
From Stanford to Harvard, students are enthusiastic about sexually integrated housing facilities. More than 200 American colleges and universities now offer students this option.
At the University of Kansas, three residence halls house both
Co-ed hall
men and women. "Life is made up of men and women, it's not segregated," explained KU director of Housing J. J. Wilson.
Of the total residence hall population of 4,500, approximately 2,100 reside in Oliver Hall, McCollum Hall and Ellsworth Hall. Men and women live on separate floors or in separate wings and share main lounges, dining and laundry areas. Segregated elevators take them to their respective floors.
"In this way students learn to relate to each other in ways that are more in line with what th_y'll
18 KANSAN Oct. 8 1969
be doing when they get out of school," said Dr. Sydney Schroeder, director of Watkins Hospital mental health clinic. "It's a healthy, natural atmosphere."
Stanford University's Lambda Nu co-ed fraternity has one of the most informal arrangements in the country. Students mingle casually in bathrobes and curlers.
Master's degree studies by Cathy Bennigson at Stanford show that students in a co-educational residence participate more in group activities and less in structured dating. Boy-girl relationships are based on more than sex.
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"We can get to know boys in a situation that's not dating; we can get to know them as friends," said Chris Seitz, Salina junior.
Robert Harpool, Overland Park sophomore, substantiated this viewpoint. "In co-ed halls you see people in a more realistic light. When girls are in curlers and blue jeans, you see them as people."
Co-educational housing is not new on the KU campus. In the late 1950's an increase in women's enrollment made it necessary to integrate Carruth-O'Leary Hall.
"There have been increasing numbers of co-ed residences since that time because we felt students preferred this," Wilson said.
The latest trend in KU co-ed housing facilities is increased informality. Residents now vote to determine if their wing or floor will adopt "open house" regulations.
Open houses enable men and women students to visit any area when open house hours are in effect. Several floors in McColum are open from noon until closing. Student opinion of the policy liberalization is varied.
Steve Gering, Kirkwood, Mo., senior, said this arrangement increased the desirability of co-ed living. "There are very few restrictions, it's an adult society."
Elaine Dembny, Osawatomic freshman living in Ellsworth disagreed. "Having boys on the floor is hard to get used to. I don't know if I like it. Since they can
sometimes stay until closing, it can be rather bad," she said.
Other students were unhappy because of the inconvenience created when snack bar facilities are located on floors with open house.
Wilson said co-ed residences have no significant difference in discipline problems from a single-sex hall. At least one counselor, an upperclass graduate student lives on each floor.
In addition, the switchboard desk on the main floor is staffed 24 hours daily. Residence hall
is as varied as the number of choices they can make about residence selection.
"I'm all for co-ed housing. I think the family atmosphere is great. It's so relaxed and informal," said Donna Mae Ida, Chicago junior.
doors are locked at security hours. Late arrivals are admitted by a security guard or when a buzzer is activated at the central desk.
"Residence directors have done a fine job in placing the challenge on people and making them realize there is a manner in which they must act," Wilson said. "The students have developed a mutual respect for each other and demonstrated fine conduct. They learn to respect the rights of others."
Student reaction to co-ed living
Laurie Vedova, St. Louis, Mo., freshman, expressed the opposite opinion. "I'd rather live in a women's dorm. I can do what I want. It's freer."
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