In the prim 1950s, college dorms were off-limits to members of the opposite sex. Then came the 1970s, when male and female students started crossing paths in coed dormitories. Now, to the astonishment of some Baby Boomer parents, a growing number of colleges are going even further: coed rooms.
At least two dozen schools, including Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Oberlin College, Clark University and the California Institute of Technology, allow some or all students to share a room with anyone they choose — including someone of the opposite sex. This spring, as students sign up for next year’s room, more schools are following suit, including Stanford University.
…Parents aren’t necessarily thrilled with boy-girl housing.
Debbie Feldman’s 20-year-old daughter, Samantha, is a sophomore at Oberlin in Ohio and plans to room with her platonic friend Grey Caspro, a straight guy, next year. Feldman said she was shocked when her daughter told her.
“When you have a male and female sharing such close quarters, I think it’s somewhat delusional to think there won’t be sexual tension,” the 52-year-old Feldman said. “Maybe this generation feels more comfortable walking around in their underwear. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
Still, Feldman said her daughter is partly in college to learn life lessons, and it’s her decision. Samantha said she assured her mom she thinks of Caspro as a brother.
“I’m really close to him, and I consider him one of my really good friends,” she said. “I really trust him. That trust makes it work.”
May, 3, 2008 ~ Associated Press
Analysis:
Young men and women who believe that they can live together, and not fall into temptation to sin sexually are most certainly (as mother Feldman in the article states) delusional. Such living arrangements ignore the dictates of the Spirit to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18); and to “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
Such young people who think this way are also prideful, thinking themselves to be stronger than they really are. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Such arrangements are the arrangements of the devil; and Christians, at least, should not be “ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Parents who take the laissez-faire attitude of mother Feldman, (“it’s her decision”), are seriously misguided. While parents may not be able to stop a 20 year child from doing what he or she wants to do, they can certainly withhold their approval and their support of such a lifestyle. The Spirit’s directive for fathers to “…not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) is one that remains valid even when a child is growing older. Young people, especially those who see no danger in these arrangements, are showing their ignorance and need for further instruction in righteousness.
