Michigan State University has partially reversed its co-ed bathroom policy at Campbell Hall following complaints from students and parents regarding discomfort with unisex facilities. The university has introduced gender-specific signs in some bathrooms after a formal complaint and survey results indicating unease among residents about a $37.1 million renovation that converted all 20 community bathrooms into unisex facilities. Parents were not notified beforehand that bathrooms would no longer be separated by gender, prompting at least one student to seek out other facilities, according to a parent’s letter.
The facilities were the first co-ed community bathrooms of their kind at any of the institution’s 27 dorms. MSU asserted that it moved to unisex community bathrooms at Campbell Hall to adapt to a potential shift in student populations. Following a review of the survey data, the decision was made to offer options for students, according to MSU spokesperson Kat Cooper in a statement to Bridge Michigan. The honors dorm spans four floors and includes 20 shared bathrooms, along with five single-use restrooms. Cooper stated that she was uncertain how many of the community bathrooms will remain unisex and how many will be designated as male or female.
In an email to Campbell Hall residents, school officials mentioned that bathrooms will be configured as much as possible to the gender make-up of the community on the ground and first floors, where there are two community bathrooms, and gendered bathroom options on the second and third floors of the dorm, where there are eight community bathrooms, along with single-use restrooms. “We wanted to ensure that no room moves were required as part of these changes,” the email reads. “The updates are intended to offer more choice and help residents feel more comfortable in their daily routines.” Some members of the MSU Board of Trustees expressed their approval of the university’s decision to respond to student and parent feedback. “I’m happy that the university listens to the concerns of its students,” Trustee Mike Balow said. “It’s important for our students to feel comfortable and to have options. This is the right move by the university,” Trustee Dennis Denno added.