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University of Tulsa gets 'all-gender' bathroom signs

Posted at 9:46 PM, Nov 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-15 04:55:53-05

TULSA -- The University of Tulsa recently installed bathroom signs for all genders.

Inside 918 Coffee, TU senior Ian Walker sips on caffeine and studies. 

“It’s kind of strange," he said. "It’s kind of something to get used to.”

Walker is talking about the new signs on campus. They're labeled "All-Gender Restroom."

“I don’t know whether it’s going to be a big problem as far as bad things like peeping toms and that sort of stuff, or whether it will be an adjustment of waiting in the line to go to the bathroom now," he said.

The computer science major said opinions could vary by generation. 

“My grandma might be really uncomfortable using the bathroom with young men or just men in general," Walker said.

The university says the signs began going up earlier this month.

An anonymous employee sent 2 Works for You the photo and said “they turned the men’s restroom into single-person by walling off the urinal and putting a lock on the outer door.”

"It’s probably something that you’re going have to adapt to, or find a bathroom somewhere else," Walker said.

That same anonymous employee says, “In other buildings the formerly women’s restrooms do not have an outer door lock, so potentially men and women would use stalls next to each other.” 

“It’s a double-edge sword a little bit. Maybe there could be a middle ground," student Saba Bingabr said.

The university claims students pushed for the change. They sent 2 Works for You this statement:

“TU now has restrooms designated as men’s, women’s or all-gender. ‘Gender-inclusive’ or ‘family’ bathrooms are standard practice at man schools, stores and venues across the country.”

“I had a friend who identified as transgender and she often felt that she couldn't use the bathroom," Bingabr said.

As Ian Walker prepared for finals, the senior reflected on how society has evolved.

The university declined an on-camera interview.

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