BSU to Sacrifice Virgins

Okay, I may be using the term 'virgin' very very loosely (haha pardon the pun) here. I won't even take a guess at how many incoming freshmen women are actually virgins, and really, I don't want to know. Honestly, it was just a catchy title...

Bemidji State University's FYRE (first year residential experience) program is going to add a second co-ed floor to the program. Currently, we have two all male FYRE floors, three all female floors, and one co-ed floor. As of next year that will change. Unfortunately, this change isn't only effecting the FYRE program. It's effecting an entire wing of a dorm hall.

Maple Hall, which houses the FYRE program also happens to be the only 'disability accessible' building on the entire campus (and in this case, I'm using 'disability accessible' as loosely as I previously used 'virgins'). So, first floor of both wings is not part of the FYRE program. Why is this important? Currently, Maple B wing is the only single-gender wing on the entire campus. Although there are other all-female and all-male floors, there is only one wing (which here can be loosely translated as 'building' the only thing connecting the wings is the lobby and a common room) that is single gendered. Although three of its four floors are FYRE and only freshmen women are allowed, the first floor allows students of any class rank. Next year, this safe haven for women will become integrated, as the second floor is turned into a co-ed floor for FYRE.

Why do I care, and why should anyone else care? I care because Maple has been my home for the last five years. I have intentionally lived here, even once I was no longer a freshman or an RA employed in the hall, because of its single-gender status. I have put up with all its faults because the community of women that previously existed within B wing was worth the other flaws. Of course, this is just my personal tie. As much as a segregated Maple hall means to me, that isn't a reason to keep it as it is.

So, why should anyone else care? If your a guy, you should be thrilled, a second co-ed floor is a huge boon to your gender. For one, there will be more male FYRE slots, which will mean fewer freshmen will have to be turned away from the program. The benefits don't end there though. Studies have shown that living in a co-ed environment helps men be better people and do better in school. Boys in co-ed environments have fewer incidents of behavior issues (ie: drinking, vandalism, etc), higher grades, and overall more respect for women. Boys flourish in a co-ed environment, and Res. Life and the FYRE program reap the benefits. Less incidents means well... less incidents. Fewer calls to security and the police, less paper work, and and overall better track record. Better grades shows that the FYRE program really does work. Basically, everyone can go home at the end of the day patting themselves on the back about what a good job their doing with freshmen as a whole. Fewer incidents, less severe incidents, better academic performance and fewer ass holes... what a great deal! How much does this wonderful program shift cost?!

Well, there is the literal cost of course, fairly minor, basically just a structural change to divide the bathroom in half. Considering they've just gutted Linden, no biggie. The real cost, however, is this:

The freshmen women.

Studies have shown that women in co-ed situations tend to have lower grades then those in single-gendered environments. They tend to have more behavior incidents, worse self esteem, and tend to fall more in socially-prescribed female roles. Women in co-ed conditions tend to become the 'mommies' or sisters of their male counterparts, taking care of them, looking after them. Additional in my own personal experience, the girls don't bond with each other on co-ed floors and tend to be in competition with each other. Where as the presence of females encourages men to be on their best behavior, the presence of males tends to encourage the worst behavior in women.

Overall, the desegregation of B wing Maple will be a boon for Res. Life, the FYRE program and freshmen males. It's going to bring in more money for Res. Life, as it will balance out the male and female slots available, and as there tends to be female rooms empty and a waiting list for male rooms, more residence means more bling. We've already talked about the benefits to the men themselves. It would really sound like the benefits far outweigh the negatives, and in some aspects they do. 'Lower grades' in co-ed women tend to be a fairly small drop, and overall women's grades are higher to start out with. So, you might be seeing a few more 3.0 instead of 3.5's. In the men you are seeing grade increases of about the same increment, but it often tends to be the difference between say 2.0 to a 2.5. Behavior incidents for women, although they increase tend to be of a lesser nature, like more noise violations or minor drinking violations. For men, you a see a decrease in the more major incidents, drinking and vandalism.

What it comes down to, though, is this: BSU is willing to drop some of their women through the cracks to fish out some of their boys.

There is one consolation to the women of B wing... there will be about 25 more incoming freshmen males who are less likely to become rapists and more likely to treat women like people. There will be an extra 1% of the University residential population will better themselves as people and only at minor expense to 10% of the population. I mean so there's a few more girls with eating disorders, poor self image, less academic focus, and forced into a gender stereotype... It means that more boys will have good enough grades to stay on their athletic team and have the nurturing they need to become the people they should be anyway... you know, not sex offending misogynists...

((Post Script: I am making a lot of claims that I am not backing up with links in this post. I do apologize as at least a portion of that is laziness. However, I did a research paper on this very topic about two years ago, what I am relaying in this post is what my findings were at the time. Unfortunately, I no longer have the the links I used in my bibliography. I will, however, continue to look for them. The one link I provide discusses the benefit of single-sex education in k-12, and while it has valid and relevant points, it doesn't entirely support the claims I've made. I suggest that this is due to the discussion of day-school co-eduction as opposed to a live in university environment. Also, some information was gathered through interviews with the RHD of Maple Hall at the time, as well as the Assistant Director of Residential Life. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know, I do realize I'm not thoroughly citing my sources.))