As you may know, UWB has been lauded in recent years for being one of the most ethnically diverse campuses in the nation. You may also be aware that the student body has been calling on the UW Administration to designate space for a Diversity Center on campus. We made quite a bit of noise over the last year – you may have heard – about making concrete plans for this space that students rightfully deserve.

From my viewpoint as a student leader and ally in the push for a Diversity Center, the primary goal of voicing this demand is to provide all students at UWB with a more enriching, equitable college experience that is promoting of growth and learning in and outside of the classroom.

In addition to having a significant percentage of first generation, international students, and students of color enrolled at UWB, we are also a gender diverse campus. That’s right gender binary, we’re calling you out. Gender identity exists on a spectrum, it doesn’t just have to be one or the other.

This being the case, I wanted to let you all know where to find gender-neutral restroom options at UWB. Some may also refer to them unisex, single-occupancy, gender-inclusive, all-gender restrooms or something along those lines. On campus there are several options for individuals who need these accommodations. I’ll try my best to describe where they are located.

The closest single-occupancy gender-neutral restroom in relation to the Campus Library would be in Discovery Hall. If you go in the main doors on the lower level of Discovery Hall, there is a hallway to the left. Restrooms are located directly on the left-hand side.

The gender-neutral option on the Cascadia side is labeled a “family restroom.”

It is also single-occupancy and is open to anyone and everyone. It’s in CC2 on the second level. If you go down the sidewalk and in through the main doors of CC1, go up one floor and go to the right. The restroom is located just past the piano.

When the new Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) opens this fall, there will be gender-neutral, single-occupant restrooms on each floor. That is as specific as I can be as it has not yet opened.

Finally, for those students headed way off campus, the Beardslee Building also has a gender-neutral restroom. When you come in the main doors, go up the stairs to the second floor. The restroom is labeled “unisex” and is just down the hall.

I will just say that while I am glad we are able to provide these options to students, more work needs to be done in order to make UWB a more inclusive, safe and tolerant environment for everyone. The conversation will need to continue throughout this next year about how we can do better. Students, ASUWB leadership, UWB Administration, faculty, staff and alumni must come together and discuss the steps we can take right now.

That is all.

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