Campus Climate:
Queer life at Brandeis spends a significant amount of time on trans issues. TransBrandeis is the university's undergraduate club for students of all gender identities and expressions. The club runs the annual Trans Awareness week during the fall semester. The campus library, and the library of the Queer Resource Center, contains books on trans issues.
Overall on campus there are very few trans speakers. Not much money is allocated for trans events or awareness (this semester TransBrandeis only got 100 dollars of student union money).
There is a brand new minor available in Sexuality and Queer Studies, which focuses some on trans issues, however at this time there are no trans specific courses.
The university's Intercultural Center is extremely supportive of trans issues, and there is currently a staff position at the ICC called Program Coordinator for Sexuality and Gender Diversity.
Gender-Neutral Housing Options:
Gender neutral housing applies to all multiple-occupancy rooms on mixed-gender floors in East and the Village, double rooms in suites in the Castle and Rosenthal, and efficiency apartments in 567 South St. These options will not impact the option of selecting single-gender housing. Gender neutral options cover multiple floors, buildings, and quads such that occupants of gender neutral spaces are not segregated to only one or two halls. Gender neutral bathrooms are designated on mixed-gender floors when possible.
Rooms on mixed-gender floors are considered gender neutral rooms only when two or more students agree to live together. Students agree to live together when they select a room together during Room Selection in the spring semester. Students must self-select the gender neutral housing option. Gender neutral housing will never be forced upon a student. If a vacancy occurs in a room on a mixed-gender floor, the room is not treated as a gender neutral space. The remaining occupants may pull in a student to maintain the gender neutrality of the room or the Department of Community Living will assign a student to the room. The sex of the students will be considered when a vacancy exists in a multiple occupancy space. Vacancies in suites and apartments will be treated as gender neutral if the occupants of the suite originally filled the space as a gender neutral space. If the suite or apartment is housed as a single-gender space, the gender of the space will be maintained and the unit will not be treated as a gender neutral space.
Gender neutral housing is not available for first-year students. Rooms are only gender neutral when students agree to live together, and the housing process for first-year students does not allow for the appropriate agreement. First-year students who want a gender neutral space should contact the Department of Community Living, and an appropriate housing assignment will be made.
Special Interest Housing:
There is one Common Cause Community for second-years called "Exploring Gender Identity and Expression." Students spend the year exploring issues around gender identity and expression. These conversations will include discussions around masculinity, feminism, and genderqueer identities. Through their exploration, students will bring their dialogue to the greater Brandeis community.
Courses and Programs of Study:
Anthropology of Gender
Anthropology of the Body
Making sex, performing gender.
Masculinities
Race and Gender in the News
Sociology of Work and Gender
Gender and the Bible
Sexuality and Queer Studies
Fraternities and Sororities:
There are no recognized fraternities and sororities on campus. There are 5 unofficial fraternities and 4 unofficial sororities; because the university does not recognize them they are not subject to the non-discrimination policy.
