Living in the residence halls is often the first time students have to live with or near a group of others who are drastically different. Dorms are full of different types of people, those differences ranging from ethnicity to sexual orientation.

Jeremy Hayes, an openly gay student, said the transition to residence halls could be a difficult one for students who are not heterosexual, particularly when living with a stranger.

“When I lived in the residence halls with a roommate I didn’t know previously, I wasn’t out to him. I didn’t feel I was ready to talk about it,” said Hayes, senior in management information systems.

“I was able to hide it from him and I did, but I think a lot more people are becoming comfortable with it.”

Still, some are not comfortable with living with an LGBT student, Hayes said. He said he knew a gay student whose roommate moved out after learning about his sexual preference.

Department of Residence Associate Director Ginny Arthur said situations regarding sexual orientation do not arise frequently. She said students are not assigned to certain rooms based on sexual orientation.

Hayes said there isn’t always an easy way to handle such situations, but resident assistants and hall directors are able to help.

“People are going to feel uncomfortable. It’s going to be a very personal thing,” he said. “Nobody has the right to tell anyone else how to feel. The important thing is for people to respect each other.”

Hayes said it’s not atypical for students to avoid voicing their opinions on LGBT issues.

“I hate to use this word, but I think the campus as a whole is pretty apathetic,” Hayes said. “It’s just sort of the Iowa mentality – you might disagree with them, but won’t say it to their face because it’s rude.”

Hayes said creating awareness could solve some problems.

“I think a lot of people have a negative attitude; it stems from [a lack of] awareness,” he said. “Because of the nature of the environment and living in such close proximity [in residence halls], it presents a different environment where these issues have to be dealt with.”

Education directed toward creating this awareness is increasing, however, Hayes said.

“I’ve heard about the things that go on at RA training and there’s been a lot more focus on diversity and LGBT [issues],” Hayes said. “All the hall directors I know have Safe Zone stickers.”

Arthur said residence hall staff members participate in training that focuses on dealing with issues of difference, such as sexual orientation.

“The position communicated to staff by our department is that we are here to serve the needs of all students regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, political affiliation or whatever else may separate people,” said Department of Residence Director Randy Alexander.

“The university is a marketplace of ideas. All members of our campus community have the right to hold, articulate and work to advance ideas, views and beliefs that they support.”

Arthur said there have been instances of violence or verbal assaults directed at homosexual students in the residence halls, though they are usually subtle.

“Overt actions have been very infrequent,” Arthur said. “Snide comments, jokes and cartoons posted on doors would be more common forms of reactions.”

Same-sex couples in

university housing

Same-sex marriages are not recognized under Iowa law. Because of this, same-sex couples at Iowa State do not qualify for an apartment in University Student Housing.

“There are different ways you can qualify for family housing,” said Kate Bruns, communications specialist for the Department of Residence.

“Technically a same-sex couple couldn’t qualify, but under the single-student clause, they could because single students are allowed to have a roommate.”

Under this clause, a single student can apply for housing and choose their partner as a roommate. However, students must be 23 to qualify for this kind of housing.

“The priority order is for a student who is legally married or has children,” Bruns said.

Victor Roman, founder of Blur, a bisexual support group, said issues with the university will probably be the least of the problems same-sex couples will encounter if they decide to live together.

“When you’re in a relationship in college, you don’t want to live with the person that you’re sleeping with,” said Roman, junior in computer science. “But if [couples] do decide [to live together], they’re going to get a lot of problems – they don’t need to be worrying about the university giving them problems.”

Roman said if a same-sex couple wants to live in apartments, there are ways around the regulations.

“I’ve known people that have faked a marriage just to move out there,” Roman said.

“So why not let two guys or two girls live together? If they’re partners . I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

Employees of University Student Housing declined to comment.