Apparently, the scholastic work at Harvard must be a breeze these days, as the student body and the administration has plenty of time to wrangle with issues such as these during the run-up to finals:

Harvard’s lack of gender non-specific bathrooms has caused transgender and gender-variant students to alter eating and drinking habits and suffer severe cases of dehydration, according to a report released yesterday by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA). ...

Members of BGLTSA issued four major requests in connection with the study: the neutralization of all gender-specific, single occupancy bathrooms; proper labeling and designation of all bathrooms; inclusion of at least one acceptable gender non-specific bathroom in any future buildings; and immunity from disciplinary action for using a bathroom that a student deems appropriate for his or her gender.

Twenty years ago, this article would have appeared in the Lampoon instead of the Crimson, but now the critical gender-neutral bathroom issue takes up the efforts of not just the reporter, Evan M. Vittor, but also the editor of the Crimson, Stephanie M. Skier, who also co-chairs the BGLTSA. How difficult is it to find a bathroom at Harvard, for crying out loud? And how many "transgendered" students are there? I think I speak for all reasonable people when I say that I don't really care who walks into a men's room or how they're dressed, especially if they use a stall.

If this is the biggest issue that faces students at Harvard, then I regret not submitting an application in 1980 when I had a chance. I was under the mistaken impression that the academic programs there were so stringent that it took a large amount of effort to succeed. Now I find out that the primary concern is finding a place to relieve oneself. (via Memeorandum)

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