Most college students check "male" or "female" on their application to live in a dorm. Thursday, the University of South Florida became the first college in Florida and one of only a few nationwide offering a third option-- "transgender."

Four roommates in one of USF's apartment style dorms discuss the changes hours after they saw it on the front-page of the school newspaper, "At least it's some type of accommodation for people who don't fit into the two checked boxes." These roommates couldn't be happier to hear their classmates who are transitioning from one sex to another have new options to live on campus.

Ashley Gunn serves as Vice-President of USF's P.R.I.D.E. Alliance promoting equality on-campus. Ashley says, "It means that people won't have to be so afraid to pursue themselves."

This year, USF will let transgendered students live alone, with a friend, or randomly with someone else of their own birth sex. It's that third option that's become the most controversial part of the plan. The university says they will give no prior notice to a student that his or her roommate might be transgendered. So, for instance, a male student might think that he's living with another male student. When in reality, he's living with someone transitioning to be a female.

"Oh! Unbelievable. Unacceptable. I can't imagine going into a room where I think it's a woman and it's actually a man," Mohammad Norre tells 10News.

Another USF student, Michelle Moran agrees that issues could arise, "I think we should be told from the beginning if a transgendered is going to live with you."

Mohammad Norre also says, "I think I'd be more freaked out by it, creeped out by it... maybe even a little disgusted by it." That's the whole reason USF will offer these new options to transgendered students, so they won't have to choose a roommate lottery.

"Living by themselves? I think it's better for safety issues, because not everyone is comfortable with that idea of living with a transgendered person," adds Garapha Mezidor.

For Ashley Gunn and her roommates, they hope these changes and a little time will bring more acceptance. "It's definitely a huge accomplishment. It's a huge move, I think, in the right direction to try to gain equality on campus. I personally feel like it couldn't have come soon enough!"

USF says this change has been discussed for years, and students can begin living in the "gender neutral" dorm rooms beginning next spring.

UNF in Jacksonville says they're also considering a similar option.

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