#nvu

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 Deciding to go to college was really hard because I was transgender. Many college, even the one that I am going to, don’t have proper systems to help aid transgender students in transitioning to college. I happened to have an RA who specifically requested his residents chosen names. Other trans students had their deadnames initially posted on their suite doors because their RA’s didn’t think to ask for chosen names.  This is an all too common experience at many schools, and it needs to change. Transgender students have so many other worries when starting college. Moving in to their resident hall shouldn’t be the first thing that knocks them down after taking such a big step to go to college in the first place.

Regarding housing, there is a severe lack of gender inclusive housing. On my campus there is two suites that are made to be LGBT - inclusive in the entire campus, making the maximum amount of people who can live in them 16. That is not considering the fact that some people will specifically want a single which makes it even less. This can potentially put students in uncomfortable situations or even in danger depending on what suite they are put in and with who. On top of this, there is a severe lack of housing that is not separated by gender. The rules for where transgender people can go are not clear even to the people who assign housing.  On my campus, you either hope you get into one of the two gender-inclusive housing option, pay for a single in the gender-neutral housing and still risk getting suite-mates that aren’t LGBT inclusive, or live in the gendered dorms to get a double and still risk getting suite-mates that aren’t LGBT inclusive. It is a major problem that colleges need to address. No one should ever feel remotely unsafe in their suite in which they live, and the fact that many of us are forced to deal with it regardless due to lack of inclusive housing for people.

Another major issue transgender college students have to face discrimination from students, along with teachers who are either ignorant and just don't understand or are very reluctant to even attempt to understand. This isn’t knew, but it still is struggle we face.