The administration is collaborating with TransBrandeis, a division of Triskelion, to consider not labeling certain campus restrooms with a designated gender.TransBrandeis Director M. Simon '07 said creating more "non-gendered" bathrooms is a positive step toward making transgendered and gender-neutral students feel more comfortable using campus restrooms.

Transgendered refers to individuals who are biologically male or female, but identify with the opposite gender. Gender-neutral refers to individuals who neither identify as male nor female.

"I'm not necessarily comfortable using the men's room because I'm not always read as male," said Simon, a transgendered student. "And I run into even more problems when I try to use the women's room."

TransBrandeis last semester recommended that the administration create non-gendered bathrooms in some major areas. In response, a new restroom with a shower and changing area has been installed in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.

Simon said the University went "above and beyond" by adding the shower.

Three additional non-gendered restrooms are located in the Shapiro Campus Center on the second and third floors and in Pearlman Hall. Collins said bathrooms in the Usdan Student Center and the Sherman Function Hall are also being considered for non-gendered designation.

The University also became the 53rd university to adopt a gender identity and gender expression non-discrimination policy last semester, which members of TransBrandeis proposed.

In a book published last month by The Advocate, a national magazine for gays and lesbians, Brandeis was not listed as one of the 100 most-gay-friendly U.S. colleges, which were chosen based on discrimination protection, general atmosphere for gays and student services available for gays and other factors. Six of the schools are in Massachusetts, including Tufts and the Massachussetts Institute of Technology.

Simon said University policies in housing, as one example, could be more gender-inclusive.

TransBrandeis is exploring the possibility of creating "gender-blind housing" for juniors and seniors, meaning students would opt to live in a housing situation where a roommate's gender is not a consideration.

Collins, who said he is committed to promoting the safety and well-being of all students, said changing single-stall restrooms to non-gendered is easier than changing multiple-stalled restrooms, because it only requires changing the door sign.

While Simon praised the administration for acting quickly in Gosman, Simon said Brandeis still has a long way to go. TransBrandeis aims eventually to have at least one non-gendered restroom in each residence quad.

Simon said TransBrandeis is not asking Brandeis to eliminate existing facilities, explaining that if non-gendered restrooms are "something that makes you uncomfortable, there are other facilities you are still able to use."

"I think that Brandeis is going to do the right thing here and make sure that this is a safe, inclusive community for everyone," Simon said.