Under Indiana Senate Bill 35, using a restroom that does not match a person’s sex at birth could result in being charged with a Class A misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine. If passed, the bill will become effective on July 1, 2016. Indiana Sen. Jim Tomes (R), who proposed the bill, did not respond for comment.
However, Ball State's Student Government Association is currently proposing legislation that recommends the university allot space for gender-neutral restrooms in new and remodeled buildings.
The legislation is sponsored by more than 15 student organizations and 44 students, including Spectrum and the Alliance for Disability Awareness chair.
The restrooms must be compliant with the disability standards, which is an important element to the legislation, said SGA President Jack Hesser.
Lexi Williams, chair of diversity and the multicultural committee on SGA, said the issue of gender neutral, accessible bathrooms was brought to her.
“It’s not just about it being gender neutral, it’s about people who would need to help their grandpa or their grandma if they come to visit," Williams said. "If I needed to help my grandpa, I couldn’t just stand outside."
Brendan Jones, SGA representative for Spectrum, said having options for restrooms is important for people who don’t fit with the binary gender system.
“Would you want to go to a different building or go to a different floor just to go to the bathroom?" Jones said. "Some people don’t feel comfortable in gender-related bathrooms."
Other Mid-American Conference schools have more gender-neutral restrooms than Ball State, according to SGA legislation. Ball State has 14 gender-neutral restrooms, whereas Western Michigan University has 52, Miami University has 47 and Bowling Green State University has 23.
“I think it’s a learning curve," Jones said. "It’s an unfortunate learning curve, but Ball State is on their learning curve, swinging up. We’re changing, we’re getting better."
Williams says she thinks this is a conflict that can be avoided.
“Can you imagine going to a public bathroom, and feeling uncomfortable?" Williams said. "Or further, going to the bathroom knowing you’ll make another person uncomfortable? Or, we could have gender-neutral accessible bathrooms."
Jones said he can't speak on behalf of Spectrum on political matters, but for him, he said it comes down to rights.
“It doesn’t harm anyone, it doesn’t impede anyone else’s rights, it’s not going to affect people,” Jones said. “All humans have to do it, all humans should be comfortable going to the bathroom.”
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