After a week’s postponement, SGA voted 19-7 to pass a resolution requesting the installation of gender-inclusive restrooms in every academic building and high-trafficked building on campus.

Following a lengthy discussion at last Monday’s meeting, Student Rights Secretary Elizabeth Ruwe and Senator Ellie Kremer made several changes to the resolution, including removing the estimated cost of such restrooms, stating that the facilities could also be used by families with small children and students with disabilities and changing the language of the resolution to match that of other universities’ gender-inclusive restroom policies.

“This is basically us saying what our idea is and it’s up to the university to decide the logistics and determine what restrooms will be put in, where they’ll be put in and how much they’re going to spend on it,” Ruwe said.

The revised resolution requests gender-inclusive restrooms in the Student Union, Steely Library, University Center, all academic buildings and all future structures on campus such as the upcoming Recreation Center and Health Innovations Center. NKU currently has gender-inclusive restrooms in the Welcome Center, Honors House, Griffin Hall and some residence halls.

According to the resolution, the university would become a “safer and more supportive community for people of all gender identities and expressions” if gender-inclusive restrooms were installed and harassment decreased as a direct result. The new restrooms would be marked with both a male and female symbol, meaning that people of any gender or gender-identity would be able to use the restrooms.

The revised resolution has the approval of the Senior Advisor for Inclusive Excellence, Dr. Kathleen Roberts and is in line with President Mearns’ strategic plan, according to SGA President John Jose.

“We did forward this up to Dr. Roberts’ office and we have the thumbs up from her office on this one,” Jose said to senators.

Other Kentucky universities with gender-inclusive restrooms include the University of Louisville, Morehead State University and Murray State University.