Students ‘disappointed’ MSU union study lounge will no longer be women-only
A petition has been launched against the decision
From August men and women will both be welcome in what was previously the MSU’s only women-only study lounge.
Lauren Turner is a recently graduate of State and a counselor at an MSU sexual assault center. The 22-year-old said:
“I’m disappointed. It’s sad – this place means a great deal to many people. It’s a helpful and supporting place where women can feel safe particularly those who have been victims of sexual assault. We shouldn’t take away safe places, especially from survivors that have endured so much pain already”.
The decision comes after a University of Michigan-Flint professor, Mark J. Perry, filed a civil rights complaint against Michigan state on Monday. The complaint claimed having a women-only space is unfair on both genders because university dollars were used for the space renovations, and the upkeep only benefited women.
He complained exclusivity of the lounge can and is violating federal and state civil rights legislation (Title XI and proposals two). He also said by having a female-only lounge and not a mens-only lounge, there’s a double standard implemented by the university in favor of women.
Students and alumnae of Michigan state have created an online petition in support of the lounge remaining women-only.
With just under 4,000 signatures, the supporters aren’t far from their 5,000 signature goal.
The university said there had been plans to convert the space to accommodate both sexes long before Perry’s complaint.
Jason Cody, a representative of MSU, said: “As MSU continues to evaluate facilities and programs to ensure access for all students, plans are under way to convert the space that has historically been used as a women’s study lounge in the MSU Union.”
The redesign of the space is set to be completed by August. It will still be used as a quiet study space to fit in with the rest of the building but it will now include a lactation area for new mothers and restrooms for both genders.
Located on the first floor of the union, the womens-only study lounge (introduced in 1925) is the only place on campus in which female students can study or hang out with no males present.