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Catholic University: Adios, Coed Dorms

School moves toward single-sex living spaces

By Luke Kelly-Clyne,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2011 2:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – Catholic University's president believes he has come up with a surefire way to curb binge drinking and promiscuity: Do away with the school's 11 coed dorms. “We just thought it was a more wholesome environment,” says John Garvey, whose plan will be phased in over several years at the DC school. “A little separation is a healthy thing." But not all students and alums agree, citing the coed housing that's existed at Catholic University for more than two decades as conducive to building stronger relationships, both platonically and romantically speaking, the Washington Post reports.

While studies suggest that students in coed dorms are more than twice as likely to report weekly binge drinking or to have several sexual partners in the course of a year, the verdict on mixed housing is hardly conclusive. Some Catholic alums are advocating stasis in the school's policy. “A lot of us met our spouses there," says one former student. "We’ve started families thanks to coed living.” Garvey laid out his rationale in a Wall Street Journal essay.

File photo of dorm windows.
File photo of dorm windows.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
passinthru
Jun 18, 2011 6:09 PM CDT
news update:  catholic schools ban coed dorms...now introducing dorms mixed with elementary schools instead.
wrwuzit
Jun 18, 2011 5:24 PM CDT
ultimately the university should use its policies to create an environment that is most conducive for learning  since they are an educational institution.  If  behaviors that jeopardize the learning environment are clearly linked to coed dorms it seems rather reasonable for the institution to respond in this manner.  While the institution is Christian, the decision has credibility solely on the basis of educational quality regardless of the religiously informed morality it may also espouse. 
lvan
Jun 18, 2011 5:03 PM CDT
Flawless Christian logic...
 

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