Gender-neutral housing coming to GW

GW announced late Thursday afternoon that gender-neutral housing will be offered for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Equal Housing Opportunity Act (EHOA), a proposal presented by current senior Michael Komo to the GW Student Association Senate last January, was the catalyst for the decision. After the SA voted to approve the motion last year, it was sent on to the GW administration for consideration. Their decision yesterday came after months of debate by students and administration staff alike.

The new program will allow all students to live with one another, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Begininning this fall, all GW students, including freshmen, will be able to opt-in. Students will not be randomly assigned in to the program to live with students of different genders; all students who wish to live in opposite-sex housing must specifically request to live with students they know.

Pierluisi Speaks About PR Statehood

On Monday, the GW Puerto Rico Statehood Student Association (PRSSA) hosted their annual kickoff event with Pedro Pierluisi, a GW Law alumnus. Pierluisi is the nonvoting delegate in the House of Representatives for Puerto Rico. About 100 students and members of the community attended the hour long speaking event.

Speaking about efforts to make Puerto Rico the 51^st state, Pierluisi noted that Puerto Rico would receive increased amounts of aid from the federal government which in turn would raise their standard of living. In turn, the United States would gain land off its coast and would prove its modern effort to embrace culture.

Congressman Pierluisi stated four specific options in order for the United States to take action on its territory. Pierluisi introduced HR 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010, on May 19, 2009, which presented the four options to the House. The bill has 181 cosponsors.

On DC statehood, Pierluisi said he supports a bill introduced by DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. To see Pierluisi’s remarks, see below: