Domestic Violence

Tonight I wanted to touch on domestic violence, a topic very near and dear to my heart.
But what exactly is domestic violence?

It's a pattern of or reoccurring behavior establishing power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence (sexual and/or physical). There is also a sub-section of mental and emotional abuse. Or in other words "you a worthless, I don't know why I'm with you! No one else will love you. You're fat and ugly!" Also "it's your fault I'm like this. If you had/hadn't (insert whatever here) I wouldn't have to act this!"

Who does domestic violence impact?

Domestic violence impacts men, woman and children. Men can be victims of domestic violence, too.
In America some domestic violence statistics include:

• Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
  

• Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family.
  

• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
  

• Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.
  

• Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.
  

• Everyday in the US, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
  

• Ninety-two percent of women surveyed listed reducing domestic violence and sexual assault as their top concern.
  

• Domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US alone—the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs.
  

• Based on reports from 10 countries, between 55 percent and 95 percent of women who had been physically abused by their partners had never contacted non-governmental organizations, shelters, or the police for help.
  

• The costs of intimate partner violence in the US alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion.
  

• Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents.
   

Other statistics include:

• Domestic violence is most likely to take place between 6 pm and 6 am.
• More than 60% of domestic violence incidents happen at home.
  

But what happens to domestic violence victims?

• Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• At least 1/3 of the families using New York City’s family shelter system are homeless due to domestic violence.
  

Why Does Domestic Abuse Happen?

• No victim is to blame for any occurrence of domestic abuse or violence.
• While there is no direct cause or explanation why domestic violence happens, it is caused by the abuser or perpetrator.
  

Who is Most Likely to Suffer from Domestic Abuse or Become a Victim of Domestic Violence?

• Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, or other factors.
• Women and men can be victims of domestic violence.
  

But for households with children, domestic violence can have an impact on them, too.

• More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes every year. 
• Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%). Children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic.
• Children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which can place a child at great risk for injury or even death.
• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
  

• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.

 Domestic violence can have a physical and mental impact.

• Women abused by their intimate partners are more vulnerable to contracting HIV or other STI’s due to forced intercourse or prolonged exposure to stress.
• Studies suggest that there is a relationship between intimate partner violence and depression and suicidal behavior.
• Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
  

Can this lead to Rape? Yes, it can.

• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States has been raped in their lifetime
• Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.
  

Can it be linked to stalking and homicide. Again, yes.

• 19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime. 60.8% of female stalking victims and 43.5% men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.

• A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20% of victims were not the intimate partners themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or bystanders.
• 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female.
  

A trait may also include "outting" you to the public or to friends and family if you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or anyone who identifies within the LGBT comunity.


If you or someone you know is in a violent relationship there are options. 911 or your local police/emergency department may be able to help if someone is immediate danger. Other options include:

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline

Support, resources and advice for your safety

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

• Available: 24/7, 365 days a year. Bilingual advocates on hand.
• Resources: http://www.thehotline.org/
• Chat now: M-F, 10am-8pm ET

Helplines for advice and support:

In the US: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
UK: call Women’s Aid at 0808 2000 247.
Australia: call 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732.  

Worldwide: visit Worldwide: visit International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies for a global list of helplines, shelters, and crisis centers. for a global list of helplines, shelters, and crisis centers.

or a safe place to stay:

In the US: visit Womenslaw.org for a state-by-state directory of domestic violence shelters in the U.S.

For men:
Abused men can also reach out to the following organizations for help:

• U.S. and Canada: 1-800-799-7233 The National Domestic Violence Hotline
• UK: 01823 334244 – ManKind Initiative 
• Australia: One in Three Campaign offers a number of crisis hotlines

World Wide Terrorism

In light of the Paris terror attacks over the weekend (Paris and all those affected continue to be in my prayers). I thought I would touch on terrorism and ISIS. (Click on the linked words to bring you to where I got my information).

Who is ISIS? (According to Wikipedia)

ISIS originated as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in 1999 and pledged allegiance to al-Queda in 2004. The group participated in the Iraqi Insurgency that followed the March 2003 invasion of Iraq by the USA and all other Western forces.

And according to The Guardian:

Isis is led by an Iraqi called Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Isis was originally an al-Qaida group in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). As the Syrian civil war intensified, its involvement in the conflict was indirect at first. Abu Muhammad al-Joulani, an ISI member, established Jabhat al-Jabhat al-Nusra in mid-2011, which became the main jihadi group in the Syrian war.

Isis is claiming responsibility for a downed Jet and Paris. There was also terror attacks in Beirut as well as a suicide bombing at a funeral in Iraq.

In 2013, alone, (world wide) The U.S Dept. Of State says:

A total of 9,707 terrorist attacks occurred worldwide, resulting in more than 17,800 deaths and more than 32,500 injuries. In addition, more than 2,990 people were kidnapped or taken hostage. In this report we describe patterns of worldwide terrorist activity with respect to changes during the year, geographic concentration, casualties, perpetrator organizations, tactics, weapons, and targets.

On average, there were 808.91 attacks, 1,490.92 deaths, and 2,714.75 injuries per month in 2013. There were 1.84 fatalities and 3.36 injuries per attack, including perpetrator casualties.

• The high number of hostages in January (986) was primarily due to a single extended hostage/barricade attack near In Amenas, Algeria in which approximately 800 people were held hostage at a British Petroleum (BP) gas complex. Al-Muwaqqi'un bil-Dima (Those Who Sign with Blood), a sub-battalion of the al-Mulathamun Battalion, claimed responsibility for the attack, which lasted three days.
• Global patterns of terrorism throughout the year were particularly influenced by trends in several key locations. In particular, terrorist violence increased coinciding with the onset of spring “fighting season” in Afghanistan. Between February and July 2013, the number of attacks in Afghanistan increased 128% and the number killed increased 253%.
• Pakistan and Iraq experienced similar increases in attacks during this time period. Although the number of attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan subsequently declined, the number of attacks and fatalities reported in Iraq continued to increase throughout the rest of 2013.

But according to the USA, what defines an act of terrorism over seas?

The FBI defines terrorism (off US soil) as:

"International terrorism" means activities with the following three characteristics:

• Involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law;
• Appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
• Occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum.*
  * FISA defines "international terrorism" in a nearly identical way, replacing "primarily" outside the U.S. with "totally" outside the U.S. 50 U.S.C. § 1801(c). 

But all this does NOT mean all Muslims or those from the middle east are terrorists. Just like not all Catholics support the Westbro Baptist Church and not all white people are apart/support the KKK. We as a people need to stop putting labels on people out of fear and mistrust. We should all be unified to fight terrorism and extremists not point fingers and blame whole groups of people. So with that being said, with a rising number of terror attacks world wide, we all should try and stay safe, wherever we are.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Something over the past several years has caught my attention. And that's Big Pharma. Seeing some prescriptions from the local pharmacy over the last few years. It would show that the prescriptions go anywhere from $1,000 to a little over $3,000 a month for one prescription.
Why does Big Pharma need to charge so much for life saving drugs (for things such as Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, ETC.)
In fact, according to Pfizer's 3rd quarter report their revenue is "$12.1 Billion Increased 6% Operationally, Which Includes $0.3 Billion Reflecting One Month of Legacy Hospira U.S. Operations."
This report can be found on their own website. Just go to Pfizer profits and click on their 3rd quarter analysis.
We as a people should not keep letting these companies make profits off of our bodies. Regardless if it's birth control, antibiotics or any other necessary medications. We the people deserve equal access to medications without struggling to pay.

(click on the words to be brought to the article. ALL CREDIT GOES TO BBC.COM)
A table found in a BBC news article  you can see how much some of these firms make. And lets not overlook Pfizer's 43% profit margin.

World's largest pharmaceutical firms
Company	Total revenue ($bn)	R&D spend ($bn)	Sales and marketing spend($bn)	Profit ($bn)	Profit margin (%)
Johnson & Johnson (US)	71.3	8.2	17.5	13.8	19
Novartis (Swiss)	58.8	9.9	14.6	9.2	16
Pfizer (US)	51.6	6.6	11.4	22.0	43
Hoffmann-La Roche (Swiss)	50.3	9.3	9.0	12.0	24
Sanofi (France)	44.4	6.3	9.1	8.5	11
Merck (US)	44.0	7.5	9.5	4.4	10
GSK (UK)	41.4	5.3	9.9	8.5	21
AstraZeneca (UK)	25.7	4.3	7.3	2.6	10
Eli Lilly (US)	23.1	5.5	5.7	4.7	20
AbbVie (US)	18.8	2.9	4.3	4.1	22
Source:	GlobalData

Tobacco Paying For Shelf Space In Stores

So I work at a convenience store, where we have to keep some tobacco products on the shelves because the company pays for the shelf space. But there in the almost 2 years I have worked there I have never seen anyone express any interest in the brand. In fact the brands, that include Klondike and Longhorn smokeless tobacco, Lucky Strikes cigarettes, Doral cigarettes, as well as other brands of cigarettes and smokeless tobaccos. But our store has to keep them on the shelves because the company pays for the space. But even if someone wanted to try and buy them one day, some are out of code/out of date. Because some retailers are afraid to take the product off shelves to send back to the company for new product. It costs money all around for a non-selling product (at least in that store/area). But why still carry the product? Why still pay for the space?

In an article published by US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, entitled

Tobacco point‐of‐purchase promotion: examining tobacco industry documents, states, "Tobacco companies pay financial incentives to encourage retailer cooperation in three major areas: posting point‐of‐sale advertising and signage; providing point‐of‐sale product displays; and providing pricing and promotional incentives to consumers. According to the Federal Trade Commission's Cigarette Report for 2003, tobacco companies in the United States had a total combined advertising and promotional budget in excess of $15 billion in 2003, and the largest proportion of this spending was allocated to the retail setting. Tobacco companies allocated 1.1% ($165 million) to point‐of‐sale advertising and 8.1% ($1.2 billion) to promotional allowances for retailers (that is, to encourage retailers to carry specific brands as part of their product inventory and to encourage point‐of‐sale product displays of these brands). A whopping 71.4% ($10.8 billion) was allocated to retail price discounts. A further 4.5% ($677 million) was allocated to providing bonus cigarettes as part of retail‐value‐added promotions, and 0.1% ($20 million) was allocated to non‐cigarette bonuses as part of retail‐value‐added promotions. In total, this means that 85.2% of all advertising and promotional spending in 2003 was allocated to various types of incentives at the retail level (compared to only 65.6% of the $5.6 billion expenditure in 1997).

In order to secure prime display space for a product, it is a relatively common marketing practice among all types of manufacturers to pay slotting allowances or slotting fees to retailers. Tobacco companies engage heavily in this practice and commonly pay slotting allowances or slotting fees in order to obtain preferred point‐of‐sale display space in retail stores, more enticing displays, and more competitive retail prices.

Several studies have examined the use of tobacco point‐of‐sale ads and displays at the retail level in the United States, and have found both advertising and product displays to be highly prevalent. In a 1991 study of 61 stores in Buffalo, New York, the average number of product displays varied from 4.3 per store for privately owned grocery stores to 7.8 per store for chain convenience stores selling gasoline. A state‐wide study of 590 stores in California in 2001 found that 85% of all product displays were within 4 feet of the checkout counter and 11% of all stores had exterior signs that exceeded the size limit specified under the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). A Massachusetts study found a shift toward signage on retail exteriors after the MSA. A study of 3462 stores across the United States found significant increases in the use of tobacco advertising both inside and outside of retail stores in 1999, when compared to the situation before the MSA implementation of the billboard tobacco advertising ban, indicating that point‐of‐sale advertising had grown in importance.

Given the large number of people that have intentions to quit, retail outlets may provide a means for tobacco companies to provide timely product purchase cues to would‐be quitters. Consequently, the retail setting may present relapse challenges for quitters. This suggests that the point‐of‐sale environment may be important to tobacco companies as a means of reaching would‐be quitters with a tempting reminder.
Several studies have found that cigarette point‐of‐sale advertising and marketing materials are more prevalent in stores where adolescents shop frequently.  Youth who are “experimenters” with tobacco are more likely than other youth to report exposure to tobacco marketing in stores. The use of self‐service tobacco displays appears to increase youth access to tobacco, both through shoplifting and through illegal sales to youth. The type of cigarette advertising found at the point‐of‐sale has the potential to influence adolescents to view users of particular cigarette brands in a more favorable light. This suggests that the point‐of‐sale environment presents a place where youth are exposed to tobacco marketing to a significant and influential degree." (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563651/)


In fact Phillip Morris' website, they offer intensives "Retail Leaders is a merchandising program that is designed to create retailer alignment with PM USA by offering incentives to best present our brands to adult smokers. Retail Leaders is developed on the following category management principles, each of which is designed to help retailers best meet the preferences of adult cigarette smokers:

• Present PM USA’s brands in the best positions
• Allocate merchandising space according to the company’s share
• Clearly communicate price and promotional offers
• Prevent cigarette access to underage purchasers 

Our trade program has a variety of merchandising options for retailers to choose from. These options are designed to offer retailers flexible choices to best meet the needs of each store. Retail Leaders includes several features to help prevent underage access to tobacco products and to manage the category in a responsible manner. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the marketing and sale of cigarettes at retail, including requiring retailers to merchandise cigarettes in a non-self-service manner.

However, in addition to requiring that retailers comply with applicable laws and regulations, the Retail Leaders program also requires retailers to take additional measures that are not mandated by federal law, including:

• training store personnel who sell tobacco products using We Card^® or equivalent training;
• displaying We Card or equivalent signage;
• using an age verification tool;
• placing retail signage that tells adults not to buy tobacco products for kids; and
• adhering to the Master Settlement Agreement.

To encourage retailers to take further responsible retailing measures, we offer additional financial incentives to retailers who refrain from placing any cigarettes, cigarette signs or brand imagery associated with cigarettes on top of or below the front of the selling counter that is closest or in front of the primary location in which cigarettes are merchandised. The Retail Leaders Program also includes limits on the location, size and the amount of PM USA interior and exterior signs at retail." (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/cms/Products/Cigarettes/Marketing_Sales/Retail_Stores/default.aspx)

Despite all of that, I don't think if a product sells, at all, not one tin, pack, etc, it is just taking up space on retailers' shelves.

Stalking linked to social media

Imagine this scenario: A group of students meet at a friend’s house looking at every inch of someone’s Facebook page, scrutinizing every detail while sending unwanted messages. It’s not the first time this week. In fact, they have read through this person’s profile and have contacted them on multiple occasions this month.

Many adults, college students and even teenagers, do not realize that the Internet and use of websites, such as Facebook can be used as tool for stalking.

The Women’s Center at Southern has resources and connections available for students, faculty and staff to help if they think they have fallen victim to stalking and are in need of support.
“A lot of people have Facebook, Myspace and Foursquare pages, but they don’t even know that it could be used in a form of stalking,” said Maayra Nieves, a student worker for the Woman’s Center.
Stalking doesn’t have to be confined to simply following the person and taking pictures of them. In fact, according to the National Victims of Crime’s website, it recognizes that technology is used as a tool to stalk a person.

“One in four victims report being stalked through the use of some form of technology [email or instant messaging]” according to the National Victims of Crime’s website.

A good amount of students on Southern’s campus file through the Woman’s Center doors in a given month for various support with various topics, according to Nieves.

“You’ll be surprised, since it is such a big campus. About four or five students come to the Woman’s Center per month,” said Nieves

At an information table set up in the Adanti Student Center on Feb. 1, pamphlets, signs and posters lined the table for those who are interested in the Women’s Center and its events this semester.
Nieves, one of those working at this table, said there are upcoming events to make students aware of subjects such as stalking, eating disorders and sexual assaults.

She said most of the students that come through the Women’s Center’s doors for help are usually handled solely by the supervisor of the center. The staff of the Women’s Center does keep information confidential if a student requests it, such as in a case of a sexual assault. Nieves said the staff cannot violate someone’s word if they expressed certain feelings.

“If a woman comes in for a sexual assault, we contact our supervisor,” said Nieves. “If the student doesn’t want us to contact, our supervisor handles it on her own.”

The Women’s Center website giving suggestions and steps for friends, family members, and those surrounding people who have fallen victim to stalking, as well as other crimes.

“Tell someone. It is important that family and friends are aware of the stalker’s behavior for your safety and theirs,” according to Southern’s website.

Stalking, sexual assault, as well as other crimes and conditions, can safely be reported. The Women’s Center also has resources to help a student who reaches out.


http://thesouthernnews.org/2012/02/09/stalking-linked-to-social-media/

Students on campus learn about Karma

What a person puts out into the world, karma always pays back to that person. As the saying goes, “what goes around, comes around.”

During Gear Up For Life Series: Gear Two–life decisions and the concept of karma were addressed. The program is the second installment in a “life series” hosted by Southern’s Counseling Center. It is designed to help show students how to approach different life situations.

“Paying those choices–paying our dues. Every action has a reaction,” said Denise Zack an LPC in the Counseling Center.

Zack, with some help from an intern, started the program to “send a message” to Southern students about life, relationships and coping skills. The karma workshop is part two of 11. One point made in the workshop is that karma is made up of choices people have made in life, which broaden the horizons for future choices.

If something negative is put out, one thing a person can expect is negative karma in return. In fact it can come in all forms and will pay a person back when the situation is fitting.

“Karma isn’t always immediate,” said Carly Weiland, an intern counselor in the Counseling Center. Weiland also helped Zack put together and carry out the series about life.

Sir Isaac Newton had a law that stated that every action has a reaction. The choice a person makes has its consequences. Choices like what school you go to, what major you choose, even the choice to live on campus as opposed to commuting-they all have different outcomes. Others may believe that karma is about living life a specific way as opposed to specific actions and their subsequent consequences.

“Karma is about how a person goes about living their life that makes a difference, not so much about what you get in return, as opposed to a specific lifestyle,” said Brian Harris, a student at Housatonic Community College.

Harris spoke about how people’s goals and aspirations are acquired either on their own or from friends, family or society, and these goals and aspirations dictate how they fulfill their lives. He was also talking about how some people, in modern western society, make certain choices, like what major to go into or even a college choice because that person may want a specific outcome from his or her life. Thus, people are living their lives a certain way while expecting certain outcomes.

Harris’s point correlates to Weiland and Zack’s presentation because when a person makes a decision he or she should “take a step back and see if it makes ‘me’ happy.” In other words, if a choice makes a person happy or those around them happy, then the person can usually tell whether that is the right choice.

“You are a result of your choices,” Weiland and Zack both agreed.

http://thesouthernnews.org/2012/02/16/students-on-campus-learn-about-karma/

SCSU adopts gender-neutral housing

Southern recently adopted a new form of housing for students. Gender-neutral housing is for any student who identifies within the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning and Intersex) community.

President of Southern’s Prism Club (or Gay Straight Alliance), Kelsey Christian, supports gender-neutral housing. Christian said she thinks it is better than some of the other “alternatives” for student housing. Russ Smith of Residence Life at Southern petitioned to get the housing started, and it’s the second semester it’s been at Southern, according to Christian.

“It’s safer than having someone who identifies within the LGBT community to be in the ‘straight-line dorms,’” Christian said. “Sharing the bathrooms with a bunch of people who are the same ‘birth sex’ as you are—you [the student] will feel uncomfortable, and you couldn’t really be you in the bathrooms.”

There is currently only one room set aside at Southern; it is located in Schwartz residence hall. However, Christian said that “all the upperclassmen residence halls like Neff, Brownell, Schwartz, and the townhouses are eligible to have gender-neutral housing.”

Smith, hall director for West Campus and advisor of Southern’s Prism, and Robert Demezzo from Residence Life started gender-neutral housing.

Christian said iif a student is interested in gender-neutral housing they can’t be in straight-line dorms like Farnham Hall because each floor is just one sex. For example, the second floor in Farnham Hall is just for women and everyone on the floor shares the same bathroom.

“A situation may arise where a person who identifies as transgendered or even lesbian, gay, or bisexual may have a ‘safety risk’ using the bathrooms,” Christian said. “Also in straight-lines you’re assigned to the floor with people who are the same ‘birth sex’ as you, even if you are considered to be ‘transgendered.’”

There are also three other colleges/universities in Connecticut that offer this type of housing: Wesleyan University, UConn, and a pilot program at Yale. Some of the other colleges and universities run their gender-neutral housing programs very differently than Southern does.

Nikki Cole, a representative for UConn’s department of Residential Life, said that for “whoever is eligible to reside on-campus at UConn who indicates interest in this option, we ask students on the housing application if they’re interested in gender-free housing.”

In contrast, Southern requires a student to talk to Counseling Services. If Counseling Services approves the student, they then have to go through a few people in Residence Life to start the housing process.

“Gender-free housing [at UConn] is located in a group of rooms located near each other within Garrigus Suites on-campus,” Cole said. “These suites are comprised of two bedrooms linked together through the bathroom. Three students reside in each room and all six residents share the bathroom in the suite.”

However, this year is Southern’s first year having housing designated for LGBTQI students, or anyone who feels they need the space.

“UConn has had this type of housing since 2007-2008,” Cole said. “Department of Residential Life started this option with one suite for a group of five students who were interested in gender-free housing. This pilot was a success and we expanded our gender-free housing option.”
One of the restrictions set forth by Southern’s department of Residence Life and Counseling Services is that Southern students cannot choose who they prefer to room with if they want gender-neutral housing. All other Southern students who are not interested in this housing get to pick who they want to room with.

To contrast, “Students [at UConn] submit their interest in gender-free housing on their housing application. We’ll pull a list of continuing students who have expressed interest in this option and ask them if they have any specific roommate requests,” Cole said. “We’ll assign them in gender-free housing according to their roommate requests, and they’ll receive the assignment information in gender-free housing prior to housing selection. Students do not need to identify within the LGBTQI community to reside in gender-free housing on-campus.”

Wesleyan is also one of the few universities across the country that offers some type of gender-neutral housing.

Fran Koerting, the director of housing at Wesleyan University, said students can “choose who they would like to live with,” but it has to be on the university’s “housing preference form.”

“Students are able to choose who they want to live with regardless of gender after their first year. It is only necessary for first-year students,” Koerting said. “On the housing preference form, we explain that students will be paired with a roommate based on legal sex. If they prefer to not be paired according to this policy, all they need to do is check a box that says they are requesting an exception. Students may be placed in any of our first-year housing; we have not designated specific rooms for students who have requested gender-neutral housing.”

http://thesouthernnews.org/2012/03/19/scsu-adopts-gender-neutral-housing/